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Title: The complete works of John Gower, volume 3

Subtitle: The English works

Author: John Gower

Editor: G. C. Macaulay

Release Date: August 18, 2023 [eBook #71433]

Language:

Credits: Ted Garvin, Stephen Rowland, Krista Zaleski and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN GOWER, VOLUME 3 ***

Transcriber’s Notes

Obvious typographical errors in punctuation have been silently corrected.

Corrections noted in “CORRIGENDA ET ADDENDA” before page 1 have been corrected in place.

Page 548 - corrected “inital” to “initial”

Footnote 847 (original page 208) - Corrected 2513 to 1513

THE COMPLETE WORKS
OF
JOHN GOWER

G. C. MACAULAY

* * *
THE ENGLISH WORKS

HENRY FROWDE, M.A.

PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK

THE COMPLETE WORKS

JOHN GOWER

EDITED FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS
WITH INTRODUCTIONS, NOTES, AND GLOSSARIES

G. C. MACAULAY, M.A.
FORMERLY FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE

* * *
THE ENGLISH WORKS

(Confessio Amantis, Lib. V. 1971—Lib. VIII; and In Praise of Peace)

O gentile Engleterre, a toi j’escrits.

Oxford
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
1901

Oxford
PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
BY HORACE HART, M.A.
PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

Confessio Amantis:—	PAGE
Liber V (l. 1971)	1
Liber VI	167
Liber VII	233
Liber VIII	386
In Praise of Peace	481
Notes	495
Glossary and Index of Proper Names	555
Index to the Notes	651

CORRIGENDA ET ADDENDA

p. 1, l. 1981, for one read on
p. 11, l. 2349, for well read wel
p. 25, note on l. 2872, for B, read SB,
p. 35, l. 3222, for well read wel
p. 57, l. 4068, for both read bothe
p. 96, l. 5504, for ware read war
p. 97, l. 5540, for luste read lust
p. 104, l. 5771, for letres read lettres
p. 111, notes on ll. 6020, 6046, for AdΔ, read SAdΔ,
p. 113, l. 6114, for parte read part
p. 116, l. 6215, for escaped read ascaped
p. 119, note on l. 6313, for AdBTΔ read SAdBTΔ
p. 122, l. 6422* read Forthi [for For thi] l. 6431* read daies [for dayes]
p. 123, l. 6408 (margin), for obtinu- read optinu-
p. 127, l. 6541, for crafte read craft
p. 143, l. 7169*, for don read do
p. 144, l. 7181* read poverte [for povert] 7182* read underfing [for underfeng]
p. 145, l. 7208* read Sacrilegge [for Sacrilege]
p. 170, l. 116, for verraliche read verrailiche
p. 178, l. 415, for Distruid read Destruid
p. 180, note on l. 497 (margin), for BΔ read SBΔ
p. 218, l. 1880, for schall read schal
p. 240, note on l. 262, for Nomans, F read Noman S, F
p. 245, note on l. 451 read J, SB, F [for J, S, B, F]
p. 259, l. 983 (margin), for adesse read ad esse
p. 270, note on l. 1393, for ellef þe read ellefþe
p. 272, l. 1445, for whiche read which
p. 283, l. 1871, for Well read Wel

[Pg 1]

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

[Coveitise.]

iii. Agros iungit agris cupidus domibusque domosque,

Possideat totam sic quasi solus humum.

Solus et innumeros mulierum spirat amores,

Vt sacra millenis sit sibi culta Venus.1

Dame Avarice is noght soleine,

Which is of gold the Capiteine;

Bot of hir Court in sondri wise2

After the Scole of hire aprise

Hic tractat confessor super illa specie Auaricie, que Cupiditas3 dicitur, quam in amoris causa pertractans Amanti super hoc opponit.

Sche hath of Servantz manyon,

Wherof that Covoitise is on;

Which goth the large world aboute,

To seche thavantages oute,4

Wher that he mai the profit winne5

To Avarice, and bringth it inne. 1980

That on hald and that other draweth,6

Ther is no day which hem bedaweth,

No mor the Sonne than the Mone,

Whan ther is eny thing to done,

And namely with Covoitise;

For he stant out of al assisse

P. ii. 194

Of resonable mannes fare.

Wher he pourposeth him to fare7

[Pg 2]

Upon his lucre and his beyete,

The smale path, the large Strete, 1990

The furlong and the longe Mile,

Al is bot on for thilke while:8

And for that he is such on holde,

Dame Avarice him hath withholde,

As he which is the principal

Outward, for he is overal

A pourveour and an aspie.

For riht as of an hungri Pie

The storve bestes ben awaited,

Riht so is Covoitise afaited 2000

To loke where he mai pourchace,

For be his wille he wolde embrace9

Al that this wyde world beclippeth;

Bot evere he somwhat overhippeth,

That he ne mai noght al fulfille

The lustes of his gredi wille.

Bot where it falleth in a lond,

That Covoitise in myhti hond

Is set, it is ful hard to fiede;

For thanne he takth non other hiede, 2010

Bot that he mai pourchace and gete,

His conscience hath al foryete,

And not what thing it mai amonte

That he schal afterward acompte.

Bote as the Luce in his degre

Of tho that lasse ben than he

P. ii. 195

The fisshes griedeli devoureth,

So that no water hem socoureth,

Riht so no lawe mai rescowe

Fro him that wol no riht allowe;10 2020

For wher that such on is of myht,

His will schal stonde in stede of riht.

Thus be the men destruid fulofte,

Til that the grete god alofte

Ayein so gret a covoitise

Redresce it in his oghne wise:

[Pg 3]

And in ensample of alle tho

I finde a tale write so,

The which, for it is good to liere,

Hierafterward thou schalt it hiere.11 2030

[Tale of Virgil’s Mirror.]

Whan Rome stod in noble plit,

Virgile, which was tho parfit,

Hic ponit exemplum contra magnates cupidos. Et narrat de Crasso Romanorum Imperatore, qui turrim, in qua speculum Virgilii Rome fixum extiterat, dolosa circumuentus cupiditate euertit; vnde non solum sui ipsius perdicionem, set tocius Ciuitatis intollerabile dampnum contingere causauit.

A Mirour made of his clergie

And sette it in the tounes ÿe

Of marbre on a piler withoute;

That thei be thritty Mile aboute

Be daie and ek also be nyhte

In that Mirour beholde myhte

Here enemys, if eny were,

With al here ordinance there, 2040

Which thei ayein the Cite caste:

So that, whil thilke Mirour laste,

Ther was no lond which mihte achieve

With werre Rome forto grieve;

Wherof was gret envie tho.

And fell that ilke time so,

P. ii. 196

That Rome hadde werres stronge

Ayein Cartage, and stoden longe

The tuo Cites upon debat.

Cartage sih the stronge astat12 2050

Of Rome in thilke Mirour stonde,

And thoghte al prively to fonde

To overthrowe it be som wyle.

And Hanybal was thilke while

The Prince and ledere of Cartage,

Which hadde set al his corage

Upon knihthod in such a wise,13

That he be worthi and be wise

And be non othre was conseiled,14

Wherof the world is yit merveiled 2060

Of the maistries that he wroghte

Upon the marches whiche he soghte.

[Pg 4]

And fell in thilke time also,

The king of Puile, which was tho,

Thoghte ayein Rome to rebelle,

And thus was take the querele,

Hou to destruie this Mirour.

Of Rome tho was Emperour15

Crassus, which was so coveitous,

That he was evere desirous 2070

Of gold to gete the pilage;

Wherof that Puile and ek Cartage

With Philosophres wise and grete

Begunne of this matiere trete,16

And ate laste in this degre

Ther weren Philosophres thre,

P. ii. 197

To do this thing whiche undertoke,

And therupon thei with hem toke

A gret tresor of gold in cophres,17

To Rome and thus these philisophres 2080

Togedre in compainie wente,

Bot noman wiste what thei mente.

Whan thei to Rome come were,

So prively thei duelte there,

As thei that thoghten to deceive:

Was non that mihte of hem perceive,

Til thei in sondri stedes have

Here gold under the ground begrave

In tuo tresors, that to beholde

Thei scholden seme as thei were olde. 2090

And so forth thanne upon a day

Al openly in good arai

To themperour thei hem presente,

And tolden it was here entente

To duellen under his servise.

And he hem axeth in what wise;

And thei him tolde in such a plit,

That ech of hem hadde a spirit,18

The which slepende a nyht appiereth

[Pg 5]

And hem be sondri dremes lereth 2100

After the world that hath betid.

Under the ground if oght be hid

Of old tresor at eny throwe,

They schull it in here swevenes knowe;

And upon this condicioun,

Thei sein, what gold under the toun

P. ii. 198

Of Rome is hid, thei wole it finde,

Ther scholde noght be left behinde,19

Be so that he the halvendel

Hem grante, and he assenteth wel; 2110

And thus cam sleighte forto duelle

With Covoitise, as I thee telle.

This Emperour bad redily

That thei be logged faste by20

Where he his oghne body lay;

And whan it was amorwe day,

That on of hem seith that he mette

Wher he a goldhord scholde fette:

Wherof this Emperour was glad,

And therupon anon he bad 2120

His Mynours forto go and myne,

And he himself of that covine

Goth forth withal, and at his hond

The tresor redi there he fond,

Where as thei seide it scholde be;

And who was thanne glad bot he?

Upon that other dai secounde

Thei have an other goldhord founde,

Which the seconde maister tok

Upon his swevene and undertok. 2130

And thus the sothe experience

To themperour yaf such credence,

That al his trist and al his feith

So sikerliche on hem he leith,

Of that he fond him so relieved,

That thei ben parfitli believed,

P. ii. 199

As thogh thei were goddes thre.

Nou herkne the soutilete.

[Pg 6]

The thridde maister scholde mete,

Which, as thei seiden, was unmete 2140

Above hem alle, and couthe most;

And he withoute noise or bost

Al priveli, so as he wolde,

Upon the morwe his swevene tolde

To themperour riht in his Ere,

And seide him that he wiste where

A tresor was so plentivous

Of gold and ek so precious

Of jeueals and of riche stones,

That unto alle hise hors at ones21 2150

It were a charge sufficant.

This lord upon this covenant

Was glad, and axeth where it was.

The maister seide, under the glas,

And tolde him eke, as for the Myn

He wolde ordeigne such engin,

That thei the werk schull undersette22

With Tymber, that withoute lette

Men mai the tresor saufli delve,

So that the Mirour be himselve 2160

Withoute empeirement schal stonde:

And this the maister upon honde23

Hath undertake in alle weie.

This lord, which hadde his wit aweie

And was with Covoitise blent,

Anon therto yaf his assent;

P. ii. 200

And thus they myne forth withal,

The timber set up overal,

Wherof the Piler stod upriht;

Til it befell upon a nyht 2170

These clerkes, whan thei were war

Hou that the timber only bar

The Piler, wher the Mirour stod,—

Here sleihte noman understod,—

Thei go be nyhte unto the Myne

[Pg 7]

With pich, with soulphre and with rosine,

And whan the Cite was a slepe,24

A wylde fyr into the depe

They caste among the timberwerk,

And so forth, whil the nyht was derk, 2180

Desguised in a povere arai

Thei passeden the toun er dai.

And whan thei come upon an hell,

Thei sihen how the Mirour fell,

Wherof thei maden joie ynowh,

And ech of hem with other lowh,

And seiden, ‘Lo, what coveitise

Mai do with hem that be noght wise!’

And that was proved afterward,

For every lond, to Romeward 2190

Which hadde be soubgit tofore,

Whan this Mirour was so forlore

And thei the wonder herde seie,

Anon begunne desobeie

With werres upon every side;

And thus hath Rome lost his pride

P. ii. 201

And was defouled overal.

For this I finde of Hanybal,

That he of Romeins in a dai,

Whan he hem fond out of arai, 2200

So gret a multitude slowh,

That of goldringes, whiche he drowh25

Of gentil handes that ben dede,

Buisshelles fulle thre, I rede,

He felde, and made a bregge also,

That he mihte over Tibre go

Upon the corps that dede were

Of the Romeins, whiche he slowh there.26

Bot now to speke of the juise,

The which after the covoitise 2210

Was take upon this Emperour,

For he destruide the Mirour;

[Pg 8]

It is a wonder forto hiere.

The Romeins maden a chaiere

And sette here Emperour therinne,

And seiden, for he wolde winne

Of gold the superfluite,

Of gold he scholde such plente

Receive, til he seide Ho:

And with gold, which thei hadden tho 2220

Buillende hot withinne a panne,

Into his Mouth thei poure thanne.

And thus the thurst of gold was queynt,

[Coveitise.]

With gold which hadde ben atteignt.

Confessor.

Wherof, mi Sone, thou miht hiere,

Whan Covoitise hath lost the stiere27

P. ii. 202

Of resonable governance,

Ther falleth ofte gret vengance.

For ther mai be no worse thing

Than Covoitise aboute a king: 2230

If it in his persone be,

It doth the more adversite;

And if it in his conseil stonde,

It bringth alday meschief to honde

Of commun harm; and if it growe

Withinne his court, it wol be knowe,

For thanne schal the king be piled.

The man which hath hise londes tiled,

Awaiteth noght more redily

The Hervest, than thei gredily 2240

Ne maken thanne warde and wacche,

Wher thei the profit mihten cacche:

And yit fulofte it falleth so,

As men mai sen among hem tho,

That he which most coveiteth faste

Hath lest avantage ate laste.

For whan fortune is therayein,

Thogh he coveite, it is in vein;

The happes be noght alle liche,

On is mad povere, an other riche, 2250

The court to some doth profit,

[Pg 9]

And some ben evere in o plit;

And yit thei bothe aliche sore

Coveite, bot fortune is more

Unto that o part favorable.

And thogh it be noght resonable,

P. ii. 203

This thing a man mai sen alday,

Wherof that I thee telle may

A fair ensample in remembrance,

Hou every man mot take his chance 2260

Or of richesse or of poverte.

Hou so it stonde of the decerte,

Hier is noght every thing aquit,

For ofte a man mai se this yit,

That who best doth, lest thonk schal have;

It helpeth noght the world to crave,

Which out of reule and of mesure

Hath evere stonde in aventure

Als wel in Court as elles where:

And hou in olde daies there 2270

It stod, so as the thinges felle,

I thenke a tale forto telle.

[Tale of the two Coffers.]

In a Cronique this I rede.

Aboute a king, as moste nede,

Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos, qui in domibus Regum seruientes, pro eo quod ipsi secundum eorum cupiditatem promoti non existunt, de regio seruicio quamuis in eorum28 defectu indiscrete murmurant.

Ther was of knyhtes and squiers

Gret route, and ek of Officers:

Some of long time him hadden served,

And thoghten that thei have deserved

Avancement, and gon withoute;

And some also ben of the route 2280

That comen bat a while agon,

And thei avanced were anon.

These olde men upon this thing,

So as thei dorste, ayein the king

Among hemself compleignen ofte:

Bot ther is nothing seid so softe,

P. ii. 204

That it ne comth out ate laste;

The king it wiste, and als so faste,29

[Pg 10]

As he which was of hih Prudence,

He schop therfore an evidence 2290

Of hem that pleignen in that cas,30

To knowe in whos defalte it was.

And al withinne his oghne entente,

That noman wiste what it mente,

Anon he let tuo cofres make

Of o semblance and of o make,

So lich that no lif thilke throwe31

That on mai fro that other knowe:

Thei were into his chambre broght,

Bot noman wot why thei be wroght, 2300

And natheles the king hath bede

That thei be set in prive stede.

As he that was of wisdom slih,

Whan he therto his time sih,

Al prively, that non it wiste,

Hise oghne hondes that o kiste

Of fin gold and of fin perrie,

The which out of his tresorie

Was take, anon he felde full;

That other cofre of straw and mull 2310

With Stones meind he felde also.

Thus be thei fulle bothe tuo,

So that erliche upon a day

He bad withinne, ther he lay,

Ther scholde be tofore his bed

A bord upset and faire spred;

P. ii. 205

And thanne he let the cofres fette,

Upon the bord and dede hem sette.

He knew the names wel of tho,

The whiche ayein him grucche so, 2320

Bothe of his chambre and of his halle,

Anon and sende for hem alle,

And seide to hem in this wise:

‘Ther schal noman his happ despise;

I wot wel ye have longe served,

And god wot what ye have deserved:

Bot if it is along on me

[Pg 11]

Of that ye unavanced be,32

Or elles it be long on you,

The sothe schal be proved nou, 2330

To stoppe with youre evele word.

Lo hier tuo cofres on the bord:

Ches which you list of bothe tuo;

And witeth wel that on of tho

Is with tresor so full begon,

That if ye happe therupon,

Ye schull be riche men for evere.

Now ches and tak which you is levere:

Bot be wel war, er that ye take;

For of that on I undertake 2340

Ther is no maner good therinne,

Wherof ye mihten profit winne.

Now goth togedre of on assent

And taketh youre avisement,

For bot I you this dai avance,

It stant upon youre oghne chance

P. ii. 206

Al only in defalte of grace:

So schal be schewed in this place

Upon you alle wel afyn,

That no defalte schal be myn.’33 2350

Thei knelen alle and with o vois

The king thei thonken of this chois:34

And after that thei up arise,

And gon aside and hem avise,

And ate laste thei acorde;

Wherof her tale to recorde,

To what issue thei be falle,35

A kniht schal speke for hem alle.

He kneleth doun unto the king,

And seith that thei upon this thing, 2360

Or forto winne or forto lese,

Ben alle avised forto chese.

Tho tok this kniht a yerde on honde,

And goth there as the cofres stonde,

And with assent of everichon

[Pg 12]

He leith his yerde upon that on,

And seith the king hou thilke same

Thei chese in reguerdoun be name,

And preith him that thei mote it have.

The king, which wolde his honour save, 2370

Whan he hath herd the commun vois,

Hath granted hem here oghne chois

And tok hem therupon the keie.

Bot for he wolde it were seie

What good thei have, as thei suppose,

He bad anon the cofre unclose,

P. ii. 207

Which was fulfild with straw and stones:

Thus be thei served al at ones.

This king thanne in the same stede

Anon that other cofre undede, 2380

Where as thei sihen gret richesse,

Wei more than thei couthen gesse.

‘Lo,’ seith the king, ‘nou mai ye se

That ther is no defalte in me;

Forthi miself I wole aquyte,

And bereth ye youre oghne wyte

Of that fortune hath you refused.’

Thus was this wise king excused,

And thei lefte of here evele speche

And mercy of here king beseche. 2390

[Tale of the Beggars and the Pasties.]

Somdiel to this matiere lik

I finde a tale, hou Frederik,

Nota hic de diuiciarum Accidencia: vbi narrat qualiter Fredericus Romanorum Imperator duos pauperes audiuit litigantes, quorum vnus dixit, ‘Bene potest ditari, quem Rex vult ditare.’ Et alius dixit, ‘Quem deus vult ditare, diues erit.’ Que res cum ad experimentum postea probata fuisset, ille qui deum inuocabat pastellum auro plenum sortitus est, alius vero caponis pastellum sorte36 preelegit.

Of Rome that time Emperour,

Herde, as he wente, a gret clamour

Of tuo beggers upon the weie.

That on of hem began to seie,

‘Ha lord, wel mai the man be riche

Whom that a king list forto riche.’

That other saide nothing so,

Bot, ‘He is riche and wel bego, 2400

To whom that god wole sende wele.’

And thus thei maden wordes fele,

Wherof this lord hath hiede nome,

And dede hem bothe forto come

[Pg 13]

To the Paleis, wher he schal ete,

And bad ordeine for here mete

P. ii. 208

Tuo Pastes, whiche he let do make.

A capoun in that on was bake,

And in that other forto winne

Of florins al that mai withinne 2410

He let do pute a gret richesse;37

And evene aliche, as man mai gesse,38

Outward thei were bothe tuo.

This begger was comanded tho,

He that which hield him to the king,

That he ferst chese upon this thing:

He sih hem, bot he felte hem noght,39

So that upon his oghne thoght

He ches the Capoun and forsok

That other, which his fela tok. 2420

Bot whanne he wiste hou that it ferde,

He seide alowd, that men it herde,

‘Nou have I certeinly conceived

That he mai lihtly be deceived,

That tristeth unto mannes helpe;

Bot wel is him whom god wol helpe,

For he stant on the siker side,

Which elles scholde go beside:

I se my fela wel recovere,

And I mot duelle stille povere.’ 2430

Thus spak this begger his entente,

And povere he cam and povere he wente;

Of that he hath richesse soght,40

His infortune it wolde noght.

So mai it schewe in sondri wise,

Betwen fortune and covoitise

P. ii. 209

The chance is cast upon a Dee;

Bot yit fulofte a man mai se

Ynowe of suche natheles,

Whiche evere pute hemself in press 2440

To gete hem good, and yit thei faile.

[Pg 14]

[Coveitise of Lovers.]

And forto speke of this entaile

Touchende of love in thi matiere,

Mi goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,

That riht as it with tho men stod

Of infortune of worldes good,

As thou hast herd me telle above,

Riht so fulofte it stant be love:

Thogh thou coveite it everemore,

Thou schalt noght have o diel the more, 2450

Bot only that which thee is schape,

The remenant is bot a jape.

And natheles ynowe of tho41

Ther ben, that nou coveiten so,

That where as thei a womman se,

Ye ten or tuelve thogh ther be,

The love is nou so unavised,

That wher the beaute stant assised,

The mannes herte anon is there,

And rouneth tales in hire Ere, 2460

And seith hou that he loveth streite,

And thus he set him to coveite,

An hundred thogh he sihe aday.

So wolde he more thanne he may;

Bot for the grete covoitise42

Of sotie and of fol emprise

P. ii. 210

In ech of hem he fint somwhat

That pleseth him, or this or that;

Som on, for sche is whit of skin,

Som on, for sche is noble of kin, 2470

Som on, for sche hath rodi chieke,

Som on, for that sche semeth mieke,

Som on, for sche hath yhen greie,

Som on, for sche can lawhe and pleie,

Som on, for sche is long and smal,

Som on, for sche is lyte and tall,

Som on, for sche is pale and bleche,43

Som on, for sche is softe of speche,

Som on, for that sche is camused,

Som on, for sche hath noght ben used, 2480

Som on, for sche can daunce and singe;[Pg 15]

So that som thing to his likinge44

He fint, and thogh nomore he fiele,

Bot that sche hath a litel hiele,

It is ynow that he therfore

Hire love, and thus an hundred score,

Whil thei be newe, he wolde he hadde;

Whom he forsakth, sche schal be badde.45

Cecus non iudicat de coloribus.

The blinde man no colour demeth,

But al is on, riht as him semeth; 2490

So hath his lust no juggement,

Whom covoitise of love blent.

Him thenkth that to his covoitise

Hou al the world ne mai suffise,

For be his wille he wolde have alle,

If that it mihte so befalle:

P. ii. 211

Thus is he commun as the Strete,

I sette noght of his beyete.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, hast thou such covoitise?

Amans.

Nai, fader, such love I despise,46 2500

And whil I live schal don evere,

For in good feith yit hadde I levere,

Than to coveite in such a weie,

To ben for evere til I deie

As povere as Job, and loveles,

Outaken on, for haveles

His thonkes is noman alyve.

For that a man scholde al unthryve47

Ther oghte no wisman coveite,

The lawe was noght set so streite: 2510

Forthi miself withal to save,

Such on ther is I wolde have,

And non of al these othre mo.48

Confessor.

Mi Sone, of that thou woldest so,

I am noght wroth, bot over this

I wol thee tellen hou it is.

For ther be men, whiche otherwise,

[Pg 16]

Riht only for the covoitise

Of that thei sen a womman riche,

Ther wol thei al here love affiche; 2520

Noght for the beaute of hire face,

Ne yit for vertu ne for grace,

Which sche hath elles riht ynowh,

Bot for the Park and for the plowh,

And other thing which therto longeth:

For in non other wise hem longeth49

P. ii. 212

To love, bot thei profit finde;

And if the profit be behinde,

Here love is evere lesse and lesse,

For after that sche hath richesse, 2530

Her love is of proporcion.

If thou hast such condicion,

Mi Sone, tell riht as it is.

Confessio Amantis.

Min holi fader, nay ywiss,

Condicion such have I non.

For trewli, fader, I love oon

So wel with al myn hertes thoght,

That certes, thogh sche hadde noght,

And were as povere as Medea,

Which was exiled for Creusa,50 2540

I wolde hir noght the lasse love;

Ne thogh sche were at hire above,

As was the riche qwen Candace,

Which to deserve love and grace

To Alisandre, that was king,

Yaf many a worthi riche thing,51

Or elles as Pantasilee,

Which was the quen of Feminee,

And gret richesse with hir nam,

Whan sche for love of Hector cam52 2550

To Troie in rescousse of the toun,—53

I am of such condicion,

That thogh mi ladi of hirselve

Were also riche as suche tuelve,54

[Pg 17]

I couthe noght, thogh it wer so,

No betre love hir than I do.

P. ii. 213

For I love in so plein a wise,

That forto speke of coveitise,

As for poverte or for richesse

Mi love is nouther mor ne lesse. 2560

For in good feith I trowe this,

So coveitous noman ther is,

Forwhy and he mi ladi sihe,55

That he thurgh lokinge of his yhe56

Ne scholde have such a strok withinne,

That for no gold he mihte winne

He scholde noght hire love asterte,

Bot if he lefte there his herte;

Be so it were such a man,

That couthe Skile of a womman. 2570

For ther be men so ruide some,57

Whan thei among the wommen come,

Thei gon under proteccioun,58

That love and his affeccioun59

Ne schal noght take hem be the slieve;

For thei ben out of that believe,

Hem lusteth of no ladi chiere,

Bot evere thenken there and hiere

Wher that here gold is in the cofre,60

And wol non other love profre: 2580

Bot who so wot what love amounteth

And be resoun trewliche acompteth,

Than mai he knowe and taken hiede

That al the lust of wommanhiede,

Which mai ben in a ladi face,

Mi ladi hath, and ek of grace

P. ii. 214

If men schull yiven hire a pris,61

Thei mai wel seie hou sche is wys

And sobre and simple of contenance,

[Pg 18]

And al that to good governance 2590

Belongeth of a worthi wiht62

Sche hath pleinli: for thilke nyht

That sche was bore, as for the nones

Nature sette in hire at ones

Beaute with bounte so besein,

That I mai wel afferme and sein,

I sawh yit nevere creature

Of comlihied and of feture

In eny kinges regioun

Be lich hire in comparisoun: 2600

And therto, as I have you told,

Yit hath sche more a thousendfold

Of bounte, and schortli to telle,

Sche is the pure hed and welle

And Mirour and ensample of goode.

Who so hir vertus understode,

Me thenkth it oughte ynow suffise

Withouten other covoitise

To love such on and to serve,

Which with hire chiere can deserve 2610

To be beloved betre ywiss

Than sche per cas that richest is

And hath of gold a Milion.

Such hath be myn opinion

And evere schal: bot natheles

I seie noght sche is haveles,

P. ii. 215

That sche nys riche and wel at ese,

And hath ynow wherwith to plese

Of worldes good whom that hire liste;

Bot o thing wolde I wel ye wiste, 2620

That nevere for no worldes good

Min herte untoward hire stod,

Bot only riht for pure love;

That wot the hihe god above.

Nou, fader, what seie ye therto?

Confessor.

Mi Sone, I seie it is wel do.

For tak of this riht good believe,63

[Pg 19]

What man that wole himself relieve

To love in eny other wise,

He schal wel finde his coveitise 2630

Schal sore grieve him ate laste,

For such a love mai noght laste.

Bot nou, men sein, in oure daies

Men maken bot a fewe assaies,

Bot if the cause be richesse;

Forthi the love is wel the lesse.

And who that wolde ensamples telle,64

Be olde daies as thei felle,

Than mihte a man wel understonde

Such love mai noght longe stonde. 2640

Now herkne, Sone, and thou schalt hiere

A gret ensample of this matiere.

[Tale of the King and his Steward’s Wife.]

To trete upon the cas of love,

So as we tolden hiere above,

Hic ponit exemplum contra istos qui non propter amorem sed propter diuicias sponsalia sumunt. Et narrat de quodam Regis Apulie Seneschallo, qui non solum propter pecuniam vxorem duxit, set eciam pecunie commercio vxorem sibi desponsatam vendidit.

I finde write a wonder thing.

Of Puile whilom was a king,

P. ii. 216

A man of hih complexioun

And yong, bot his affeccioun

After the nature of his age

Was yit noght falle in his corage 2650

The lust of wommen forto knowe.

So it betidde upon a throwe

This lord fell into gret seknesse:

Phisique hath don the besinesse

Of sondri cures manyon

To make him hol; and therupon

A worthi maister which ther was

Yaf him conseil upon this cas,65

That if he wolde have parfit hele,

He scholde with a womman dele, 2660

A freissh, a yong, a lusti wiht,

To don him compaignie a nyht;

For thanne he seide him redily,

That he schal be al hol therby,

[Pg 20]

And otherwise he kneu no cure.

This king, which stod in aventure66

Of lif and deth, for medicine

Assented was, and of covine

His Steward, whom he tristeth wel,

He tok, and tolde him everydel, 2670

Hou that this maister hadde seid:67

And therupon he hath him preid

And charged upon his ligance,

That he do make porveance

Of such on as be covenable

For his plesance and delitable;

P. ii. 217

And bad him, hou that evere it stod,

That he schal spare for no good,

For his will is riht wel to paie.

The Steward seide he wolde assaie: 2680

Bot nou hierafter thou schalt wite,

As I finde in the bokes write,68

What coveitise in love doth.

This Steward, forto telle soth,

Amonges al the men alyve69

A lusti ladi hath to wyve,

Which natheles for gold he tok

And noght for love, as seith the bok.

A riche Marchant of the lond

Hir fader was, and hire fond70 2690

So worthily, and such richesse

Of worldes good and such largesse

With hire he yaf in mariage,

That only for thilke avantage71

Of good this Steward hath hire take,

For lucre and noght for loves sake,72

And that was afterward wel seene;

Nou herkne what it wolde meene.

This Steward in his oghne herte

[Pg 21]

Sih that his lord mai noght asterte 2700

His maladie, bot he have

A lusti womman him to save,

And thoghte he wolde yive ynowh

Of his tresor; wherof he drowh

Gret coveitise into his mynde,

And sette his honour fer behynde.

P. ii. 218

Thus he, whom gold hath overset,

Was trapped in his oghne net;

The gold hath mad hise wittes lame,

So that sechende his oghne schame 2710

He rouneth in the kinges Ere,

And seide him that he wiste where

A gentile and a lusti on

Tho was, and thider wolde he gon:73

Bot he mot yive yiftes grete;

For bot it be thurgh gret beyete

Of gold, he seith, he schal noght spede.

The king him bad upon the nede

That take an hundred pound he scholde,

And yive it where that he wolde, 2720

Be so it were in worthi place:

And thus to stonde in loves grace

This king his gold hath abandouned.

And whan this tale was full rouned,

The Steward tok the gold and wente,

Withinne his herte and many a wente

Of coveitise thanne he caste,

Wherof a pourpos ate laste

Ayein love and ayein his riht

He tok, and seide hou thilke nyht 2730

His wif schal ligge be the king;

And goth thenkende upon this thing

Toward his In, til he cam hom

Into the chambre, and thanne he nom

His wif, and tolde hire al the cas.74

And sche, which red for schame was,

P. ii. 219

With bothe hire handes hath him preid75

[Pg 22]

Knelende and in this wise seid,76

That sche to reson and to skile

In what thing that he bidde wile77 2740

Is redy forto don his heste,

Bot this thing were noght honeste,

That he for gold hire scholde selle.

And he tho with hise wordes felle

Forth with his gastly contienance

Seith that sche schal don obeissance

And folwe his will in every place;

And thus thurgh strengthe of his manace

Hir innocence is overlad,

Wherof sche was so sore adrad 2750

That sche his will mot nede obeie.

And therupon was schape a weie,78

That he his oghne wif be nyhte

Hath out of alle mennes sihte

So prively that non it wiste

Broght to the king, which as him liste

Mai do with hire what he wolde.

For whan sche was ther as sche scholde,

With him abedde under the cloth,

The Steward tok his leve and goth 2760

Into a chambre faste by;79

Bot hou he slep, that wot noght I,

For he sih cause of jelousie.

Bot he, which hath the compainie

Of such a lusti on as sche,

Him thoghte that of his degre

P. ii. 220

Ther was noman so wel at ese:

Sche doth al that sche mai to plese,

So that his herte al hol sche hadde;

And thus this king his joie ladde, 2770

Til it was nyh upon the day.80

The Steward thanne wher sche lay

Cam to the bedd, and in his wise81

Hath bede that sche scholde arise.

[Pg 23]

The king seith, ‘Nay, sche schal noght go.’

His Steward seide ayein, ‘Noght so;82

For sche mot gon er it be knowe,

And so I swor at thilke throwe,

Whan I hire fette to you hiere.’83

The king his tale wol noght hiere,84 2780

And seith hou that he hath hire boght,

Forthi sche schal departe noght,

Til he the brighte dai beholde.

And cawhte hire in hise armes folde,

As he which liste forto pleie,

And bad his Steward gon his weie,

And so he dede ayein his wille.

And thus his wif abedde stille

Lay with the king the longe nyht,

Til that it was hih Sonne lyht; 2790

Bot who sche was he knew nothing.

Tho cam the Steward to the king

And preide him that withoute schame85

In savinge of hire goode name

He myhte leden hom ayein

This lady, and hath told him plein

P. ii. 221

Hou that it was his oghne wif.

The king his Ere unto this strif

Hath leid, and whan that he it herde,

Welnyh out of his wit he ferde, 2800

And seide, ‘Ha, caitif most of alle,

Wher was it evere er this befalle,

That eny cokard in this wise

Betok his wif for coveitise?

Thou hast bothe hire and me beguiled

And ek thin oghne astat reviled,

Wherof that buxom unto thee

Hierafter schal sche nevere be.

For this avou to god I make,

After this day if I thee take, 2810

Thou schalt ben honged and todrawe.

[Pg 24]

Nou loke anon thou be withdrawe,

So that I se thee neveremore.’

This Steward thanne dradde him sore,

With al the haste that he mai

And fledde awei that same dai,86

And was exiled out of londe.

Lo, there a nyce housebonde,

Which thus hath lost his wif for evere!

Bot natheles sche hadde a levere; 2820

The king hire weddeth and honoureth,

Wherof hire name sche socoureth,

Which erst was lost thurgh coveitise

Of him, that ladde hire other wise,

And hath himself also forlore.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, be thou war therfore,

P. ii. 222

Wher thou schalt love in eny place,

That thou no covoitise embrace,

The which is noght of loves kinde.

Bot for al that a man mai finde 2830

Nou in this time of thilke rage

Ful gret desese in mariage,

Whan venym melleth with the Sucre

And mariage is mad for lucre,

Or for the lust or for the hele:

What man that schal with outher dele,87

He mai noght faile to repente.

Amans.

Mi fader, such is myn entente:

Bot natheles good is to have,

For good mai ofte time save 2840

The love which scholde elles spille.

Bot god, which wot myn hertes wille,

I dar wel take to witnesse,

Yit was I nevere for richesse

Beset with mariage non;

For al myn herte is upon on

So frely, that in the persone

Stant al my worldes joie al one:

I axe nouther Park ne Plowh,

[Pg 25]

If I hire hadde, it were ynowh, 2850

Hir love scholde me suffise

Withouten other coveitise.

Lo now, mi fader, as of this,

Touchende of me riht as it is,

Mi schrifte I am beknowe plein;

And if ye wole oght elles sein,88

P. ii. 223

Of covoitise if ther be more

In love, agropeth out the sore.

[False Witness and Perjury.]

iv. Fallere cum nequeat propria vir fraude, subornat

Testes, sit quod eis vera retorta fides.89

Sicut agros cupidus dum querit amans mulieres,

Vult testes falsos falsus habere suos.90

Non sine vindicta periurus abibit in eius

Visu, qui cordis intima cuncta videt.

Fallere periuro non est laudanda puellam91

Gloria, set false condicionis opus.

Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde

Hou Coveitise hath yit on honde 2860

In special tuo conseilours,

That ben also hise procurours.

Hic tractat super illis92 Auaricie speciebus, que falsum Testimonium et Periurium nuncupantur; quorum fraudulenta circumuencio tam in cupiditatis95 quam in amoris causa sui desiderii propositum quamsepe fallaciter attingit.

The ferst of hem is Falswitnesse,93

Which evere is redi to witnesse

What thing his maister wol him hote:

Perjurie is the secounde hote,94

Which spareth noght to swere an oth,

Thogh it be fals and god be wroth.96

That on schal falswitnesse bere,

That other schal the thing forswere, 2870

Whan he is charged on the bok.

So what with hepe and what with crok97

Thei make here maister ofte winne

And wol noght knowe what is sinne

[Pg 26]

For coveitise, and thus, men sain,

Thei maken many a fals bargain.

Ther mai no trewe querele arise

In thilke queste and thilke assise,98

Where as thei tuo the poeple enforme;

For thei kepe evere o maner forme, 2880

P. ii. 224

That upon gold here conscience

Thei founde, and take here evidence;

And thus with falswitnesse and othes

Thei winne hem mete and drinke and clothes.

Riht so ther be, who that hem knewe,

Of thes lovers ful many untrewe:

Nou mai a womman finde ynowe,

That ech of hem, whan he schal wowe,

Anon he wole his hand doun lein

Upon a bok, and swere and sein 2890

That he wole feith and trouthe bere;

And thus he profreth him to swere

To serven evere til he die,

And al is verai tricherie.

For whan the sothe himselven trieth,

The more he swerth, the more he lieth;

Whan he his feith makth althermest,

Than mai a womman truste him lest;

For til he mai his will achieve,

He is no lengere forto lieve.99 2900

Thus is the trouthe of love exiled,

[False Witness.]

And many a good womman beguiled.

Confessor.

And ek to speke of Falswitnesse,

There be nou many suche, I gesse,100

That lich unto the provisours

Thei make here prive procurours,101

To telle hou ther is such a man,

Which is worthi to love and can

Al that a good man scholde kunne;

So that with lesinge is begunne 2910

P. ii. 225

The cause in which thei wole procede,

And also siker as the crede

[Pg 27]

Thei make of that thei knowen fals.

And thus fulofte aboute the hals

Love is of false men embraced;

Bot love which is so pourchaced

Comth afterward to litel pris.

Forthi, mi Sone, if thou be wis,

Nou thou hast herd this evidence,

Thou miht thin oghne conscience 2920

Oppose, if thou hast ben such on.

Amans.

Nai, god wot, fader, I am non,

Ne nevere was; for as men seith,

Whan that a man schal make his feith,

His herte and tunge moste acorde;

For if so be that thei discorde,

Thanne is he fals and elles noght:

And I dar seie, as of my thoght,

In love it is noght descordable

Unto mi word, bot acordable. 2930

And in this wise, fader, I

Mai riht wel swere and salvely,102

That I mi ladi love wel,

For that acordeth everydel.

It nedeth noght to mi sothsawe

That I witnesse scholde drawe,

Into this dai for nevere yit103

Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit,

That I my conseil scholde seie

To eny wiht, or me bewreie104 2940

P. ii. 226

To sechen help in such manere,

Bot only of mi ladi diere.105

And thogh a thousend men it wiste,

That I hire love, and thanne hem liste

With me to swere and to witnesse,

Yit were that no falswitnesse;

For I dar on this trouthe duelle,

I love hire mor than I can telle.

Thus am I, fader, gulteles,

[Pg 28]

As ye have herd, and natheles 2950

In youre dom I put it al.106

Confessor.

Mi Sone, wite in special,

It schal noght comunliche faile,

Al thogh it for a time availe

That Falswitnesse his cause spede,

Upon the point of his falshiede

It schal wel afterward be kid;

Wherof, so as it is betid,

Ensample of suche thinges blinde

In a Cronique write I finde. 2960

[Tale of Achilles and Deidamia.]

The Goddesse of the See Thetis,

Sche hadde a Sone, and his name is

Achilles, whom to kepe and warde,

Hic ponit exemplum de illis, qui falsum testificantes amoris innocenciam circumueniunt. Et narrat qualiter Thetis Achillem filium suum adolescentem, muliebri vestitum apparatu, asserens esse puellam inter Regis Lichomedis filias ad educandum produxit. Et sic Achilles decepto Rege filie sue Deidamie socia et cubicularia effectus super ipsam Pirrum genuit; qui postea mire probitatis miliciam assecutus mortem patris sui apud Troiam in Polixenen tirannice vindicauit.

Whil he was yong, as into warde107

Sche thoghte him salfly to betake,

As sche which dradde for his sake108

Of that was seid in prophecie,109

That he at Troie scholde die,

Whan that the Cite was belein.

Forthi, so as the bokes sein, 2970

P. ii. 227

Sche caste hire wit in sondri wise,

Hou sche him mihte so desguise

That noman scholde his bodi knowe:

And so befell that ilke throwe,

Whil that sche thoghte upon this dede,110

Ther was a king, which Lichomede

Was hote, and he was wel begon

With faire dowhtres manyon,

And duelte fer out in an yle.

Nou schalt thou hiere a wonder wyle: 2980

This queene, which the moder was

Of Achilles, upon this cas

Hire Sone, as he a Maiden were,

Let clothen in the same gere

Which longeth unto wommanhiede:

And he was yong and tok non hiede,

[Pg 29]

Bot soffreth al that sche him dede.

Wherof sche hath hire wommen bede

And charged be here othes alle,

Hou so it afterward befalle, 2990

That thei discovere noght this thing,

Bot feigne and make a knowleching,

Upon the conseil which was nome,

In every place wher thei come

To telle and to witnesse this,

Hou he here ladi dowhter is.111

And riht in such a maner wise

Sche bad thei scholde hire don servise,

So that Achilles underfongeth

As to a yong ladi belongeth 3000

P. ii. 228

Honour, servise and reverence.

For Thetis with gret diligence

Him hath so tawht and so afaited,

That, hou so that it were awaited,112

With sobre and goodli contenance

He scholde his wommanhiede avance,

That non the sothe knowe myhte,

Bot that in every mannes syhte

He scholde seme a pure Maide.

And in such wise as sche him saide, 3010

Achilles, which that ilke while

Was yong, upon himself to smyle

Began, whan he was so besein.

And thus, after the bokes sein,

With frette of Perle upon his hed,

Al freissh betwen the whyt and red,

As he which tho was tendre of Age,

Stod the colour in his visage,

That forto loke upon his cheke

And sen his childly manere eke, 3020

He was a womman to beholde.

And thanne his moder to him tolde,

That sche him hadde so begon

Be cause that sche thoghte gon

To Lichomede at thilke tyde,

[Pg 30]

Wher that sche seide he scholde abyde113

Among hise dowhtres forto duelle.

Achilles herde his moder telle,

And wiste noght the cause why;

And natheles ful buxomly 3030

P. ii. 229

He was redy to that sche bad,

Wherof his moder was riht glad,114

To Lichomede and forth thei wente.

And whan the king knew hire entente,

And sih this yonge dowhter there,

And that it cam unto his Ere

Of such record, of such witnesse,

He hadde riht a gret gladnesse

Of that he bothe syh and herde,

As he that wot noght hou it ferde 3040

Upon the conseil of the nede.

Bot for al that king Lichomede

Hath toward him this dowhter take,

And for Thetis his moder sake

He put hire into compainie115

To duelle with Deïdamie,116

His oghne dowhter, the eldeste,

The faireste and the comelieste

Of alle hise doghtres whiche he hadde.

Lo, thus Thetis the cause ladde, 3050

And lefte there Achilles feigned,

As he which hath himself restreigned

In al that evere he mai and can

Out of the manere of a man,117

And tok his wommannysshe chiere,

Wherof unto his beddefere

Deïdamie he hath be nyhte.

Wher kinde wole himselve rihte,118

After the Philosophres sein,

Ther mai no wiht be therayein: 3060

P. ii. 230

And that was thilke time seene.

[Pg 31]

The longe nyhtes hem betuene

Nature, which mai noght forbere,

Hath mad hem bothe forto stere

Thei kessen ferst, and overmore

The hihe weie of loves lore

Thei gon, and al was don in dede,

Wherof lost is the maydenhede;

And that was afterward wel knowe.

For it befell that ilke throwe 3070

At Troie, wher the Siege lay

Upon the cause of Menelay

And of his queene dame Heleine,

The Gregois hadden mochel peine

Alday to fihte and to assaile.

Bot for thei mihten noght availe

So noble a Cite forto winne,

A prive conseil thei beginne,

In sondri wise wher thei trete;

And ate laste among the grete 3080

Thei fellen unto this acord,

That Protheüs, of his record

Which was an Astronomien

And ek a gret Magicien,

Scholde of his calculacion

Seche after constellacion,

Hou thei the Cite mihten gete:

And he, which hadde noght foryete

Of that belongeth to a clerk,

His studie sette upon this werk.119 3090

P. ii. 231

So longe his wit aboute he caste,

Til that he fond out ate laste,

Bot if they hadden Achilles

Here werre schal ben endeles.

And over that he tolde hem plein

In what manere he was besein,

And in what place he schal be founde;

So that withinne a litel stounde

Ulixes forth with Diomede

Upon this point to Lichomede 3100

Agamenon togedre sente.[Pg 32]

Bot Ulixes, er he forth wente,

Which was on of the moste wise,

Ordeigned hath in such a wise,

That he the moste riche aray,

Wherof a womman mai be gay,

With him hath take manyfold,

And overmore, as it is told,

An harneis for a lusti kniht,

Which burned was as Selver bryht,120 3110

Of swerd, of plate and ek of maile,

As thogh he scholde to bataille,

He tok also with him be Schipe.

And thus togedre in felaschipe

Forth gon this Diomede and he

In hope til thei mihten se

The place where Achilles is.

The wynd stod thanne noght amis,

Bot evene topseilcole it blew,121

Til Ulixes the Marche knew, 3120

P. ii. 232

Wher Lichomede his Regne hadde.

The Stieresman so wel hem ladde,

That thei ben comen sauf to londe,

Wher thei gon out upon the stronde

Into the Burgh, wher that thei founde

The king, and he which hath facounde,

Ulixes, dede the message.

Bot the conseil of his corage,

Why that he cam, he tolde noght,

Bot undernethe he was bethoght 3130

In what manere he mihte aspie

Achilles fro Deïdamie

And fro these othre that ther were,

Full many a lusti ladi there.

Thei pleide hem there a day or tuo,

And as it was fortuned so,

[Pg 33]

It fell that time in such a wise,

To Bachus that a sacrifise

Thes yonge ladys scholden make;

And for the strange mennes sake, 3140

That comen fro the Siege of Troie,

Thei maden wel the more joie.

Ther was Revel, ther was daunsinge,

And every lif which coude singe

Of lusti wommen in the route122

A freissh carole hath sunge aboute;

Bot for al this yit natheles

The Greks unknowe of Achilles

So weren, that in no degre

Thei couden wite which was he, 3150

P. ii. 233

Ne be his vois, ne be his pas.

Ulixes thanne upon this cas123

A thing of hih Prudence hath wroght:

For thilke aray, which he hath broght

To yive among the wommen there,

He let do fetten al the gere

Forth with a knihtes harneis eke,—

In al a contre forto seke124

Men scholden noght a fairer se,—

And every thing in his degre 3160

Endlong upon a bord he leide.

To Lichomede and thanne he preide

That every ladi chese scholde

What thing of alle that sche wolde,

And take it as be weie of yifte;

For thei hemself it scholde schifte,

He seide, after here oghne wille.

Achilles thanne stod noght stille:

Whan he the bryhte helm behield,125

The swerd, the hauberk and the Schield, 3170

His herte fell therto anon;

Of all that othre wolde he non,

The knihtes gere he underfongeth,

[Pg 34]

And thilke aray which that belongeth

Unto the wommen he forsok.

And in this wise, as seith the bok,

Thei knowen thanne which he was:

For he goth forth the grete pas

Into the chambre where he lay;

Anon, and made no delay, 3180

P. ii. 234

He armeth him in knyhtli wise,

That bettre can noman devise,

And as fortune scholde falle,

He cam so forth tofore hem alle,

As he which tho was glad ynowh.

But Lichomede nothing lowh,

Whan that he syh hou that it ferde,

For thanne he wiste wel and herde,

His dowhter hadde be forlein;

Bot that he was so oversein, 3190

The wonder overgoth his wit.

For in Cronique is write yit126

Thing which schal nevere be foryete,

Hou that Achilles hath begete

Pirrus upon Deïdamie,

Wherof cam out the tricherie

Of Falswitnesse, whan thei saide127

Hou that Achilles was a Maide.

Bot that was nothing sene tho,

For he is to the Siege go 3200

Forth with Ulixe and Diomede.

Confessor.

Lo, thus was proved in the dede

And fulli spoke at thilke while:

If o womman an other guile,

Wher is ther eny sikernesse?

Whan Thetis, which was the goddesse,

Deïdamie hath so bejaped,

I not hou it schal ben ascaped

With tho wommen whos innocence128

Is nou alday thurgh such credence129 3210

P. ii. 235

Deceived ofte, as it is seene,

[Pg 35]

With men that such untrouthe meene.

For thei ben slyhe in such a wise,

That thei be sleihte and be queintise

Of Falswitnesse bringen inne

That doth hem ofte forto winne,

Wher thei ben noght worthi therto.130

[Perjury.]

Forthi, my Sone, do noght so.

Amans

Mi fader, as of Falswitnesse

The trouthe and the matiere expresse, 3220

Touchende of love hou it hath ferd,

As ye have told, I have wel herd.

Bot for ye seiden otherwise,

Hou thilke vice of Covoitise

Hath yit Perjurie of his acord,131

If that you list of som record

To telle an other tale also

In loves cause of time ago,

What thing it is to be forswore,

I wolde preie you therfore, 3230

Wherof I mihte ensample take.

Confessor.

Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake

Touchende of this I schal fulfille

Thin axinge at thin oghne wille,

And the matiere I schal declare,

Hou the wommen deceived are,

Whan thei so tendre herte bere,132

Of that thei hieren men so swere;

Bot whan it comth unto thassay,

Thei finde it fals an other day: 3240

P. ii. 236

As Jason dede to Medee,133

Which stant yet of Auctorite

In tokne and in memorial;

Wherof the tale in special

Is in the bok of Troie write,

Which I schal do thee forto wite.134

In Grece whilom was a king,

Of whom the fame and knowleching

[Pg 36]

[Tale of Jason and Medea.]

Beleveth yit, and Peleüs

He hihte; bot it fell him thus, 3250

Hic in amoris causa ponit exemplum contra periuros. Et narrat qualiter Iason, priusquam ad insulam Colchos pro aureo vellere ibidem conquestando transmearet, in amorem et coniugium Medee Regis Othonis filie iuramento firmius se astrinxit; set suo postea completo negocio, cum ipsam secum nauigio in Greciam perduxisset, vbi illa senectam135 patris sui Esonis in floridam iuuentutem mirabili sciencia reformauit, ipse Iason fidei sue ligamento aliisque beneficiis postpositis, dictam Medeam pro quadam Creusa Regis Creontis filia periurus dereliquit.

That his fortune hir whiel so ladde

That he no child his oghne hadde

To regnen after his decess.

He hadde a brother natheles,

Whos rihte name was Eson,

And he the worthi kniht Jason

Begat, the which in every lond

Alle othre passede of his hond

In Armes, so that he the beste

Was named and the worthieste, 3260

He soghte worschipe overal.

Nou herkne, and I thee telle schal

An aventure that he soghte,

Which afterward ful dere he boghte.

Ther was an yle, which Colchos

Was cleped, and therof aros

Gret speche in every lond aboute,

That such merveile was non oute

In al the wyde world nawhere,

As tho was in that yle there. 3270

P. ii. 237

Ther was a Schiep, as it was told,

The which his flees bar al of gold,

And so the goddes hadde it set,

That it ne mihte awei be fet

Be pouer of no worldes wiht:

And yit ful many a worthi kniht

It hadde assaied, as thei dorste,

And evere it fell hem to the worste.

Bot he, that wolde it noght forsake,

Bot of his knyhthod undertake 3280

To do what thing therto belongeth,136

This worthi Jason, sore alongeth

To se the strange regiouns

And knowe the condiciouns

Of othre Marches, where he wente;

And for that cause his hole entente

[Pg 37]

He sette Colchos forto seche,

And therupon he made a speche

To Peleüs his Em the king.

And he wel paid was of that thing;137 3290

And schop anon for his passage,

And suche as were of his lignage,

With othre knihtes whiche he ches,

With him he tok, and Hercules,

Which full was of chivalerie,138

With Jason wente in compaignie;

And that was in the Monthe of Maii,

Whan colde stormes were away.

The wynd was good, the Schip was yare,

Thei tok here leve, and forth thei fare139 3300

P. ii. 238

Toward Colchos: bot on the weie

What hem befell is long to seie;

Hou Lamedon the king of Troie,

Which oghte wel have mad hem joie,140

Whan thei to reste a while him preide,

Out of his lond he hem congeide;141

And so fell the dissencion,

Which after was destruccion

Of that Cite, as men mai hiere:

Bot that is noght to mi matiere. 3310

Bot thus this142 worthi folk Gregeis143

Fro that king, which was noght curteis,

And fro his lond with Sail updrawe

Thei wente hem forth, and many a sawe

Thei made and many a gret manace,

Til ate laste into that place

Which as thei soghte thei aryve,

And striken Sail, and forth as blyve

Thei sente unto the king and tolden

Who weren ther and what thei wolden. 3320

Oëtes, which was thanne king,144

[Pg 38]

Whan that he herde this tyding

Of Jason, which was comen there,

And of these othre, what thei were,

He thoghte don hem gret worschipe:

For thei anon come out of Schipe,

And strawht unto the king thei wente,

And be the hond Jason he hente,

And that was ate paleis gate,

So fer the king cam on his gate 3330

P. ii. 239

Toward Jason to don him chiere;

And he, whom lacketh no manere,

Whan he the king sih in presence,

Yaf him ayein such reverence

As to a kinges stat belongeth.

And thus the king him underfongeth,

And Jason in his arm he cawhte,

And forth into the halle he strawhte,

And ther they siete and spieke of thinges,

And Jason tolde him tho tidinges,145 3340

Why he was come, and faire him preide

To haste his time, and the kyng seide,

‘Jason, thou art a worthi kniht,

Bot it lith in no mannes myht

To don that thou art come fore:

Ther hath be many a kniht forlore

Of that thei wolden it assaie.’

Bot Jason wolde him noght esmaie,

And seide, ‘Of every worldes cure

Fortune stant in aventure, 3350

Per aunter wel, per aunter wo:

Bot hou as evere that it go,

It schal be with myn hond assaied.’

The king tho hield him noght wel paied,

For he the Grekes sore dredde,

In aunter, if Jason ne spedde,

He mihte therof bere a blame;

For tho was al the worldes fame

In Grece, as forto speke of Armes.

Forthi he dredde him of his harmes, 3360

P. ii. 240

And gan to preche him and to preie;[Pg 39]

Bot Jason wolde noght obeie,

Bot seide he wolde his porpos holde

For ought that eny man him tolde.

The king, whan he thes wordes herde,146

And sih hou that this kniht ansuerde,

Yit for he wolde make him glad,

After Medea gon he bad,

Which was his dowhter, and sche cam.

And Jason, which good hiede nam, 3370

Whan he hire sih, ayein hire goth;

And sche, which was him nothing loth,

Welcomede him into that lond,

And softe tok him be the hond,

And doun thei seten bothe same.

Sche hadde herd spoke of his name147

And of his grete worthinesse;

Forthi sche gan hir yhe impresse

Upon his face and his stature,

And thoghte hou nevere creature 3380

Was so wel farende as was he.

And Jason riht in such degre

Ne mihte noght withholde his lok,

Bot so good hiede on hire he tok,

That him ne thoghte under the hevene

Of beaute sawh he nevere hir evene,

With al that fell to wommanhiede.

Thus ech of other token hiede,

Thogh ther no word was of record;

Here hertes bothe of on acord 3390

P. ii. 241

Ben set to love, bot as tho

Ther mihten be no wordes mo.

The king made him gret joie and feste,148

To alle his men he yaf an heste,

So as thei wolde his thonk deserve,

That thei scholde alle Jason serve,

Whil that he wolde there duelle.

And thus the dai, schortly to telle,

[Pg 40]

With manye merthes thei despente,

Til nyht was come, and tho thei wente, 3400

Echon of other tok his leve,

Whan thei no lengere myhten leve.

I not hou Jason that nyht slep,

Bot wel I wot that of the Schep,

For which he cam into that yle,

He thoghte bot a litel whyle;

Al was Medea that he thoghte,

So that in many a wise he soghte

His witt wakende er it was day,

Som time yee, som time nay, 3410

Som time thus, som time so,

As he was stered to and fro

Of love, and ek of his conqueste

As he was holde of his beheste.

And thus he ros up be the morwe

And tok himself seint John to borwe,

And seide he wolde ferst beginne

At love, and after forto winne

The flees of gold, for which he com,

And thus to him good herte he nom. 3420

P. ii. 242

Medea riht the same wise,

Til dai cam that sche moste arise,149

Lay and bethoughte hire al the nyht,

Hou sche that noble worthi kniht

Be eny weie mihte wedde:

And wel sche wiste, if he ne spedde

Of thing which he hadde undertake,

Sche mihte hirself no porpos take;

For if he deide of his bataile,

Sche moste thanne algate faile 3430

To geten him, whan he were ded.

Thus sche began to sette red

And torne aboute hir wittes alle,

To loke hou that it mihte falle

That sche with him hadde a leisir

To speke and telle of hir desir.

And so it fell that same day150

[Pg 41]

That Jason with that suete may

Togedre sete and hadden space

To speke, and he besoughte hir grace.151 3440

And sche his tale goodli herde,

And afterward sche him ansuerde

And seide, ‘Jason, as thou wilt,

Thou miht be sauf, thou miht be spilt;

For wite wel that nevere man,

Bot if he couthe that I can,

Ne mihte that fortune achieve

For which thou comst: bot as I lieve,

If thou wolt holde covenant

To love, of al the remenant 3450

P. ii. 243

I schal thi lif and honour save,

That thou the flees of gold schalt have.’

He seide, ‘Al at youre oghne wille,

Ma dame, I schal treuly fulfille

Youre heste, whil mi lif mai laste.’

Thus longe he preide, and ate laste

Sche granteth, and behihte him this,

That whan nyht comth and it time is,

Sche wolde him sende certeinly

Such on that scholde him prively 3460

Al one into hire chambre bringe.

He thonketh hire of that tidinge,

For of that grace him is begonne

Him thenkth alle othre thinges wonne.

The dai made ende and lost his lyht,152

And comen was the derke nyht,

Which al the daies yhe blente.

Jason tok leve and forth he wente,

And whan he cam out of the pres,

He tok to conseil Hercules, 3470

And tolde him hou it was betid,

And preide it scholde wel ben hid,153

And that he wolde loke aboute,

Therwhiles that he schal ben oute.

Thus as he stod and hiede nam,

[Pg 42]

A Mayden fro Medea cam

And to hir chambre Jason ledde,

Wher that he fond redi to bedde

The faireste and the wiseste eke;

And sche with simple chiere and meke, 3480

P. ii. 244

Whan sche him sih, wax al aschamed.154

Tho was here tale newe entamed;155

For sikernesse of Mariage

Sche fette forth a riche ymage,156

Which was figure of Jupiter,

And Jason swor and seide ther,

That also wiss god scholde him helpe,

That if Medea dede him helpe,

That he his pourpos myhte wtnne,

Thei scholde nevere parte atwinne,157 3490

Bot evere whil him lasteth lif,

He wolde hire holde for his wif.

And with that word thei kisten bothe;

And for thei scholden hem unclothe,

Ther cam a Maide, and in hir wise

Sche dede hem bothe full servise,

Til that thei were in bedde naked:

I wot that nyht was wel bewaked,

Thei hadden bothe what thei wolde.

And thanne of leisir sche him tolde, 3500

And gan fro point to point enforme

Of his bataile and al the forme,

Which as he scholde finde there,

Whan he to thyle come were.

Sche seide, at entre of the pas

Hou Mars, which god of Armes was,

Hath set tuo Oxen sterne and stoute,

That caste fyr and flamme aboute

Bothe at the mouth and ate nase,

So that thei setten al on blase 3510

P. ii. 245

What thing that passeth hem betwene:

And forthermore upon the grene

Ther goth the flees of gold to kepe

[Pg 43]

A Serpent, which mai nevere slepe.

Thus who that evere scholde it winne,

The fyr to stoppe he mot beginne,

Which that the fierce bestes caste,158

And daunte he mot hem ate laste,

So that he mai hem yoke and dryve;

And therupon he mot as blyve 3520

The Serpent with such strengthe assaile,

That he mai slen him be bataile;

Of which he mot the teth outdrawe,

As it belongeth to that lawe,

And thanne he mot tho Oxen yoke,

Til thei have with a plowh tobroke

A furgh of lond, in which arowe

The teth of thaddre he moste sowe,

And therof schule arise knihtes

Wel armed up at alle rihtes. 3530

Of hem is noght to taken hiede,

For ech of hem in hastihiede

Schal other slen with dethes wounde:159

And thus whan thei ben leid to grounde,160

Than mot he to the goddes preie,

And go so forth and take his preie.

Bot if he faile in eny wise

Of that ye hiere me devise,

Ther mai be set non other weie,

That he ne moste algates deie. 3540

P. ii. 246

‘Nou have I told the peril al:

I woll you tellen forth withal,’

Quod Medea to Jason tho,

‘That ye schul knowen er ye go,

Ayein the venym and the fyr161

What schal ben the recoverir.

Bot, Sire, for it is nyh day,

Ariseth up, so that I may

Delivere you what thing I have,

That mai youre lif and honour save.’ 3550

Thei weren bothe loth to rise,

[Pg 44]

Bot for thei weren bothe wise,

Up thei arisen ate laste:

Jason his clothes on him caste

And made him redi riht anon,

And sche hir scherte dede upon

And caste on hire a mantel clos,

Withoute more and thanne aros.

Tho tok sche forth a riche Tye

Mad al of gold and of Perrie, 3560

Out of the which sche nam a Ring,

The Ston was worth al other thing.

Sche seide, whil he wolde it were,

Ther myhte no peril him dere,

In water mai it noght be dreynt,

Wher as it comth the fyr is queynt,

It daunteth ek the cruel beste,

Ther may no qued that man areste,

Wher so he be on See or lond,

Which hath that ring upon his hond: 3570

P. ii. 247

And over that sche gan to sein,

That if a man wol ben unsein,

Withinne his hond hold clos the Ston,

And he mai invisible gon.

The Ring to Jason sche betauhte,

And so forth after sche him tauhte

What sacrifise he scholde make;

And gan out of hire cofre take

Him thoughte an hevenely figure,

Which al be charme and be conjure 3580

Was wroght, and ek it was thurgh write

With names, which be scholde wite,162

As sche him tauhte tho to rede;

And bad him, as he wolde spede,

Withoute reste of eny while,

Whan he were londed in that yle,

He scholde make his sacrifise

And rede his carecte in the wise

As sche him tauhte, on knes doun bent,

Thre sithes toward orient; 3590

For so scholde he the goddes plese[Pg 45]

And winne himselven mochel ese.

And whanne he hadde it thries rad,

To opne a buiste sche him bad,

Which sche ther tok him in present,

And was full of such oignement,

That ther was fyr ne venym non

That scholde fastnen him upon,

Whan that he were enoynt withal.163

Forthi sche tauhte him hou he schal 3600

P. ii. 248

Enoignte his armes al aboute,

And for he scholde nothing doute,

Sche tok him thanne a maner glu,

The which was of so gret vertu,

That where a man it wolde caste,

It scholde binde anon so faste

That noman mihte it don aweie.

And that sche bad be alle weie

He scholde into the mouthes throwen

Of tho tweie Oxen that fyr blowen, 3610

Therof to stoppen the malice;

The glu schal serve of that office.

And over that hir oignement,

Hir Ring and hir enchantement

Ayein the Serpent scholde him were,

Til he him sle with swerd or spere:

And thanne he may saufliche ynowh

His Oxen yoke into the plowh

And the teth sowe in such a wise,164

Til he the knyhtes se arise, 3620

And ech of other doun be leid

In such manere as I have seid.

Lo, thus Medea for Jason

Ordeigneth, and preith therupon

That he nothing foryete scholde,

And ek sche preith him that he wolde,

Whan he hath alle his Armes don,

To grounde knele and thonke anon

[Pg 46]

The goddes, and so forth be ese

The flees of gold he scholde sese. 3630

P. ii. 249

And whanne he hadde it sesed so,

That thanne he were sone ago

Withouten eny tariynge.

Whan this was seid, into wepinge

Sche fell, as sche that was thurgh nome

With love, and so fer overcome,

That al hir world on him sche sette.

Bot whan sche sih ther was no lette,

That he mot nedes parte hire fro,

Sche tok him in hire armes tuo, 3640

An hundred time and gan him kisse,

And seide, ‘O, al mi worldes blisse,

Mi trust, mi lust, mi lif, min hele,

To be thin helpe in this querele

I preie unto the goddes alle.’

And with that word sche gan doun falle

On swoune, and he hire uppe nam,165

And forth with that the Maiden cam,

And thei to bedde anon hir broghte,

And thanne Jason hire besoghte, 3650

And to hire seide in this manere:

‘Mi worthi lusti ladi dere,

Conforteth you, for be my trouthe

It schal noght fallen in mi slouthe

That I ne wol thurghout fulfille

Youre hestes at youre oghne wille.

And yit I hope to you bringe

Withinne a while such tidinge,

The which schal make ous bothe game.’

Bot for he wolde kepe hir name, 3660

P. ii. 250

Whan that he wiste it was nyh dai,

He seide, ‘A dieu, mi swete mai.’

And forth with him he nam his gere,

Which as sche hadde take him there,

And strauht unto his chambre he wente,166

And goth to bedde and slep him hente,

[Pg 47]

And lay, that noman him awok,

For Hercules hiede of him tok,167

Til it was undren hih and more.168

And thanne he gan to sighe sore 3670

And sodeinliche abreide of slep;169

And thei that token of him kep,

His chamberleins, be sone there,

And maden redi al his gere,

And he aros and to the king

He wente, and seide hou to that thing

For which he cam he wolde go.

The king therof was wonder wo,170

And for he wolde him fain withdrawe,

He tolde him many a dredful sawe, 3680

Bot Jason wolde it noght recorde,

And ate laste thei acorde.

Whan that he wolde noght abide,

A Bot was redy ate tyde,

In which this worthi kniht of Grece

Ful armed up at every piece,

To his bataile which belongeth,

Tok ore on honde and sore him longeth,171

Til he the water passed were.

Whan he cam to that yle there, 3690

P. ii. 251

He set him on his knes doun strauht,172

And his carecte, as he was tawht,

He radde, and made his sacrifise,

And siththe enoignte him in that wise,

As Medea him hadde bede;

And thanne aros up fro that stede,

And with the glu the fyr he queynte,

And anon after he atteinte

The grete Serpent and him slowh.

Bot erst he hadde sorwe ynowh, 3700

For that Serpent made him travaile

[Pg 48]

So harde and sore of his bataile,

That nou he stod and nou he fell:

For longe time it so befell,

That with his swerd ne with his spere173

He mihte noght that Serpent dere.174

He was so scherded al aboute,

It hield all eggetol withoute,

He was so ruide and hard of skin,

Ther mihte nothing go therin; 3710

Venym and fyr togedre he caste,

That he Jason so sore ablaste,

That if ne were his oignement,

His Ring and his enchantement,

Which Medea tok him tofore,

He hadde with that worm be lore;

Bot of vertu which therof cam

Jason the Dragon overcam.

And he anon the teth outdrouh,

And sette his Oxen in a plouh,175 3720

P. ii. 252

With which he brak a piece of lond

And sieu hem with his oghne hond.

Tho mihte he gret merveile se:

Of every toth in his degre

Sprong up a kniht with spere and schield,

Of whiche anon riht in the field

Echon slow other; and with that

Jason Medea noght foryat,

On bothe his knes he gan doun falle,

And yaf thonk to the goddes alle. 3730

The Flees he tok and goth to Bote,

The Sonne schyneth bryhte and hote,

The Flees of gold schon forth withal,

The water glistreth overal.

Medea wepte and sigheth ofte,

And stod upon a Tour alofte:

Al prively withinne hirselve,

Ther herde it nouther ten ne tuelve,

Sche preide, and seide, ‘O, god him spede,

[Pg 49]

The kniht which hath mi maidenhiede!’ 3740

And ay sche loketh toward thyle.

Bot whan sche sih withinne a while176

The Flees glistrende ayein the Sonne,

Sche saide, ‘Ha lord, now al is wonne,177

Mi kniht the field hath overcome:

Nou wolde god he were come;

Ha lord, that he ne were alonde!’178

Bot I dar take this on honde,

If that sche hadde wynges tuo,

Sche wolde have flowe unto him tho 3750

P. ii. 253

Strawht ther he was into the Bot.179

The dai was clier, the Sonne hot,

The Gregeis weren in gret doute,

The whyle that here lord was oute:

Thei wisten noght what scholde tyde,

Bot waiten evere upon the tyde,

To se what ende scholde falle.

Ther stoden ek the nobles alle

Forth with the comun of the toun;

And as thei loken up and doun, 3760

Thei weren war withinne a throwe,

Wher cam the bot, which thei wel knowe,

And sihe hou Jason broghte his preie.

And tho thei gonnen alle seie,

And criden alle with o stevene,180

‘Ha, wher was evere under the hevene

So noble a knyht as Jason is?’

And welnyh alle seiden this,

That Jason was a faie kniht,

For it was nevere of marines miht 3770

The Flees of gold so forto winne;

And thus to talen thei beginne.181

With that the king com forth anon,

And sih the Flees, hou that it schon;

[Pg 50]

And whan Jason cam to the lond,

The king himselve tok his hond

And kist him, and gret joie him made.

The Gregeis weren wonder glade,

And of that thing riht merie hem thoghte,

And forth with hem the Flees thei broghte, 3780

P. ii. 254

And ech on other gan to leyhe;

Bot wel was him that mihte neyhe,

To se therof the proprete.

And thus thei passen the cite

And gon unto the Paleis straght.

Medea, which foryat him naght,

Was redy there, and seide anon,

‘Welcome, O worthi kniht Jason.’

Sche wolde have kist him wonder fayn,

Bot schame tornede hire agayn; 3790

It was noght the manere as tho,182

Forthi sche dorste noght do so.

Sche tok hire leve, and Jason wente

Into his chambre, and sche him sente

Hire Maide to sen hou he ferde;

The which whan that sche sih and herde,183

Hou that he hadde faren oute

And that it stod wel al aboute,184

Sche tolde hire ladi what sche wiste,

And sche for joie hire Maide kiste. 3800

The bathes weren thanne araied,

With herbes tempred and assaied,

And Jason was unarmed sone

And dede as it befell to done:

Into his bath he wente anon

And wyssh him clene as eny bon;

He tok a sopp, and oute he cam,

And on his beste aray he nam,

And kempde his hed, whan he was clad,

And goth him forth al merie and glad 3810

P. ii. 255

Riht strawht into the kinges halle.

The king cam with his knihtes alle

[Pg 51]

And maden him glad welcominge;

And he hem tolde the tidinge185

Of this and that, hou it befell,

Whan that he wan the schepes fell.

Medea, whan sche was asent,

Com sone to that parlement,

And whan sche mihte Jason se,

Was non so glad of alle as sche. 3820

Ther was no joie forto seche,

Of him mad every man a speche,186

Som man seide on, som man seide other;187

Bot thogh he were goddes brother

And mihte make fyr and thonder,

Ther mihte be nomore wonder

Than was of him in that cite.

Echon tauhte other, ‘This is he,

Which hath in his pouer withinne

That al the world ne mihte winne: 3830

Lo, hier the beste of alle goode.’

Thus saiden thei that there stode,

And ek that walkede up and doun,

Bothe of the Court and of the toun.

The time of Souper cam anon,

Thei wisshen and therto thei gon,

Medea was with Jason set:

Tho was ther many a deynte fet

And set tofore hem on the bord,

Bot non so likinge as the word 3840

P. ii. 256

Which was ther spoke among hem tuo,

So as thei dorste speke tho.

Bot thogh thei hadden litel space,

Yit thei acorden in that place

Hou Jason scholde come at nyht,

Whan every torche and every liht

Were oute, and thanne of other thinges188

Thei spieke aloud for supposinges

Of hem that stoden there aboute:

[Pg 52]

For love is everemore in doute, 3850

If that it be wisly governed189

Of hem that ben of love lerned.

Whan al was don, that dissh and cuppe

And cloth and bord and al was uppe,

Thei waken whil hem lest to wake,

And after that thei leve take

And gon to bedde forto reste.

And whan him thoghte for the beste,

That every man was faste aslepe,

Jason, that wolde his time kepe, 3860

Goth forth stalkende al prively

Unto the chambre, and redely

Ther was a Maide, which him kepte.

Medea wok and nothing slepte,

Bot natheles sche was abedde,

And he with alle haste him spedde

And made him naked and al warm.

Anon he tok hire in his arm:

What nede is forto speke of ese?

Hem list ech other forto plese, 3870

P. ii. 257

So that thei hadden joie ynow:

And tho thei setten whanne and how

That sche with him awey schal stele.

With wordes suche and othre fele

Whan al was treted to an ende,

Jason tok leve and gan forth wende

Unto his oughne chambre in pes;

Ther wiste it non bot Hercules.

He slepte and ros whan it was time,190

And whanne it fell towardes prime, 3880

He tok to him suche as he triste

In secre, that non other wiste,

And told hem of his conseil there,191

And seide that his wille were

That thei to Schipe hadde alle thinge

So priveliche in thevenynge,

That noman mihte here dede aspie

[Pg 53]

Bot tho that were of compaignie:192

For he woll go withoute leve,

And lengere woll he noght beleve; 3890

Bot he ne wolde at thilke throwe

The king or queene scholde it knowe.

Thei saide, ‘Al this schal wel be do:’

And Jason truste wel therto.

Medea in the mene while,

Which thoghte hir fader to beguile,

The Tresor which hir fader hadde

With hire al priveli sche ladde,

And with Jason at time set

Awey sche stal and fond no let, 3900

P. ii. 258

And straght sche goth hire unto schipe

Of Grece with that felaschipe,

And thei anon drowe up the Seil.

And al that nyht this was conseil,

Bot erly, whan the Sonne schon,

Men syhe hou that thei were agon,

And come unto the king and tolde:

And he the sothe knowe wolde,

And axeth where his dowhter was.

Ther was no word bot Out, Allas! 3910

Sche was ago. The moder wepte,

The fader as a wod man lepte,

And gan the time forto warie,

And swor his oth he wol noght tarie,193

That with Caliphe and with galeie

The same cours, the same weie,

Which Jason tok, he wolde take,

If that he mihte him overtake.

To this thei seiden alle yee:

Anon thei weren ate See, 3920

And alle, as who seith, at a word

Thei gon withinne schipes bord,

The Sail goth up, and forth thei strauhte.

Bot non espleit therof thei cauhte,

And so thei tornen hom ayein,

[Pg 54]

For al that labour was in vein.

Jason to Grece with his preie

Goth thurgh the See the rihte weie:

Whan he ther com and men it tolde,

Thei maden joie yonge and olde. 3930

P. ii. 259

Eson, whan that he wiste of this,

Hou that his Sone comen is,

And hath achieved that he soughte

And hom with him Medea broughte,

In al the wyde world was non

So glad a man as he was on.

Togedre ben these lovers tho,

Til that thei hadden sones tuo,

Wherof thei weren bothe glade,

And olde Eson gret joie made 3940

To sen thencress of his lignage;

For he was of so gret an Age,

That men awaiten every day,

Whan that he scholde gon away.

Jason, which sih his fader old,

Upon Medea made him bold,

Of art magique, which sche couthe,

And preith hire that his fader youthe

Sche wolde make ayeinward newe:

And sche, that was toward him trewe, 3950

Behihte him that sche wolde it do,

Whan that sche time sawh therto.

Bot what sche dede in that matiere

It is a wonder thing to hiere,

Bot yit for the novellerie

I thenke tellen a partie.194

Nota quibus medicamentis Esonem senectute decrepitum ad sue iuuentutis adolescenciam prudens Medea reduxit.

Thus it befell upon a nyht,

Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht,

Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste,

That no wyht bot hirself it wiste,195 3960

P. ii. 260

And that was ate mydnyht tyde.

The world was stille on every side;196

[Pg 55]

With open hed and fot al bare,

Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare,197

Upon hir clothes gert sche was,

Al specheles and on the gras198

Sche glod forth as an Addre doth:

Non otherwise sche ne goth,

Til sche cam to the freisshe flod,

And there a while sche withstod. 3970

Thries sche torned hire aboute,

And thries ek sche gan doun loute

And in the flod sche wette hir her,

And thries on the water ther

Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge onde,199

And tho sche tok hir speche on honde.

Ferst sche began to clepe and calle

Upward unto the sterres alle,

To Wynd, to Air, to See, to lond

Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond 3980

To Echates, and gan to crie,

Which is goddesse of Sorcerie.

Sche seide, ‘Helpeth at this nede,

And as ye maden me to spede,

Whan Jason cam the Flees to seche,

So help me nou, I you beseche.’

With that sche loketh and was war,

Doun fro the Sky ther cam a char,

The which Dragouns aboute drowe:

And tho sche gan hir hed doun bowe,200 3990

P. ii. 261

And up sche styh, and faire and wel

Sche drof forth bothe char and whel201

Above in thair among the Skyes.

The lond of Crete and tho parties

Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye,

And there upon the hulles hyhe

Of Othrin and Olimpe also,

And ek of othre hulles mo,

[Pg 56]

Sche fond and gadreth herbes suote,

Sche pulleth up som be the rote, 4000

And manye with a knyf sche scherth,

And alle into hir char sche berth.

Thus whan sche hath the hulles sought,

The flodes ther foryat sche nought,

Eridian and Amphrisos,

Peneie and ek Spercheïdos,202

To hem sche wente and ther sche nom

Bothe of the water and the fom,203

The sond and ek the smale stones,

Whiche as sche ches out for the nones, 4010

And of the rede See a part,

That was behovelich to hire art,

Sche tok, and after that aboute

Sche soughte sondri sedes oute

In feldes and in many greves,

And ek a part sche tok of leves:

Bot thing which mihte hire most availe

Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile.

In daies and in nyhtes Nyne,

With gret travaile and with gret pyne,204 4020

P. ii. 262

Sche was pourveid of every piece,

And torneth homward into Grece.

Before the gates of Eson

Hir char sche let awai to gon,205

And tok out ferst that was therinne;

For tho sche thoghte to beginne

Such thing as semeth impossible,

And made hirselven invisible,

As sche that was with Air enclosed206

And mihte of noman be desclosed. 4030

Sche tok up turves of the lond

Withoute helpe of mannes hond,

Al heled with the grene gras,

Of which an Alter mad ther was

[Pg 57]

Unto Echates the goddesse

Of art magique and the maistresse,

And eft an other to Juvente,

As sche which dede hir hole entente.

Tho tok sche fieldwode and verveyne,

Of herbes ben noght betre tueine, 4040

Of which anon withoute let

These alters ben aboute set:

Tuo sondri puttes faste by207

Sche made, and with that hastely

A wether which was blak sche slouh,

And out therof the blod sche drouh

And dede into the pettes tuo;

Warm melk sche putte also therto

With hony meynd: and in such wise208

Sche gan to make hir sacrifice, 4050

P. ii. 263

And cride and preide forth withal

To Pluto the god infernal,

And to the queene Proserpine.

And so sche soghte out al the line

Of hem that longen to that craft,

Behinde was no name laft,

And preide hem alle, as sche wel couthe,

To grante Eson his ferste youthe.

This olde Eson broght forth was tho,

Awei sche bad alle othre go 4060

Upon peril that mihte falle;

And with that word thei wenten alle,

And leften there hem tuo al one.

And tho sche gan to gaspe and gone,

And made signes manyon,

And seide hir wordes therupon;

So that with spellinge of hir charmes209

Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes,

And made him forto slepe faste,

And him upon hire herbes caste. 4070

The blake wether tho sche tok,

[Pg 58]

And hiewh the fleissh, as doth a cok;210

On either alter part sche leide,211

And with the charmes that sche seide

A fyr doun fro the Sky alyhte

And made it forto brenne lyhte.

Bot whan Medea sawh it brenne,

Anon sche gan to sterte and renne

The fyri aulters al aboute:

Ther was no beste which goth oute 4080

P. ii. 264

More wylde than sche semeth ther:

Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her,

As thogh sche were oute of hir mynde

And torned in an other kynde.

Tho lay ther certein wode cleft,

Of which the pieces nou and eft

Sche made hem in the pettes wete,

And put hem in the fyri hete,212

And tok the brond with al the blase,

And thries sche began to rase 4090

Aboute Eson, ther as he slepte;

And eft with water, which sche kepte,

Sche made a cercle aboute him thries,

And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes:

Ful many an other thing sche dede,

Which is noght writen in this stede.

Bot tho sche ran so up and doun,

Sche made many a wonder soun,

Somtime lich unto the cock,

Somtime unto the Laverock, 4100

Somtime kacleth as a Hen,

Somtime spekth as don the men:

And riht so as hir jargoun strangeth,

In sondri wise hir forme changeth,

Sche semeth faie and no womman;

For with the craftes that sche can213

Sche was, as who seith, a goddesse,

And what hir liste, more or lesse,

Sche dede, in bokes as we finde,

[Pg 59]

That passeth over manneskinde.214 4110

P. ii. 265

Bot who that wole of wondres hiere,

What thing sche wroghte in this matiere,

To make an ende of that sche gan,215

Such merveile herde nevere man.

Apointed in the newe Mone,

Whan it was time forto done,

Sche sette a caldron on the fyr,

In which was al the hole atir,

Wheron the medicine stod,

Of jus, of water and of blod, 4120

And let it buile in such a plit,

Til that sche sawh the spume whyt;

And tho sche caste in rynde and rote,

And sed and flour that was for bote,

With many an herbe and many a ston,

Wherof sche hath ther many on:

And ek Cimpheius the Serpent

To hire hath alle his scales lent,

Chelidre hire yaf his addres skin,216

And sche to builen caste hem in; 4130

A part ek of the horned Oule,

The which men hiere on nyhtes houle;

And of a Raven, which was told

Of nyne hundred wynter old,

Sche tok the hed with al the bile;

And as the medicine it wile,

Sche tok therafter the bouele217

Of the Seewolf, and for the hele218

Of Eson, with a thousand mo

Of thinges that sche hadde tho,219 4140

P. ii. 266

In that Caldroun togedre as blyve

Sche putte, and tok thanne of Olyve

A drie branche hem with to stere,

The which anon gan floure and bere

And waxe al freissh and grene ayein.

[Pg 60]

Whan sche this vertu hadde sein,

Sche let the leste drope of alle

Upon the bare flor doun falle;

Anon ther sprong up flour and gras,

Where as the drope falle was, 4150

And wox anon al medwe grene,220

So that it mihte wel be sene.221

Medea thanne knew and wiste

Hir medicine is forto triste,

And goth to Eson ther he lay,

And tok a swerd was of assay,

With which a wounde upon his side

Sche made, that therout mai slyde

The blod withinne, which was old

And sek and trouble and fieble and cold.222 4160

And tho sche tok unto his us223

Of herbes al the beste jus,

And poured it into his wounde;

That made his veynes fulle and sounde:

And tho sche made his wounde clos,

And tok his hand, and up he ros;

And tho sche yaf him drinke a drauhte,

Of which his youthe ayein he cauhte,

His hed, his herte and his visage

Lich unto twenty wynter Age; 4170

P. ii. 267

Hise hore heres were away,

And lich unto the freisshe Maii,

Whan passed ben the colde schoures,

Riht so recovereth he his floures.

Lo, what mihte eny man devise,

A womman schewe in eny wise

Mor hertly love in every stede,224

Than Medea to Jason dede?

Ferst sche made him the flees to winne,

And after that fro kiththe and kinne 4180

With gret tresor with him sche stal,

And to his fader forth withal

[Pg 61]

His Elde hath torned into youthe,

Which thing non other womman couthe:

Bot hou it was to hire aquit,

The remembrance duelleth yit.225

King Peleüs his Em was ded,

Jason bar corone on his hed,

Medea hath fulfild his wille:

Bot whanne he scholde of riht fulfille 4190

The trouthe, which to hire afore

He hadde in thyle of Colchos swore,

Tho was Medea most deceived.

For he an other hath received,

Which dowhter was to king Creon,

Creusa sche hihte, and thus Jason,

As he that was to love untrewe,

Medea lefte and tok a newe.

Bot that was after sone aboght:

Medea with hire art hath wroght 4200

P. ii. 268

Of cloth of gold a mantel riche,

Which semeth worth a kingesriche,

And that was unto Creusa sent

In name of yifte and of present,

For Sosterhode hem was betuene;

And whan that yonge freisshe queene

That mantel lappeth hire aboute,

Anon therof the fyr sprong oute

And brente hir bothe fleissh and bon.

Tho cam Medea to Jason 4210

With bothe his Sones on hire hond,

And seide, ‘O thou of every lond

The moste untrewe creature,

Lo, this schal be thi forfeture.’

With that sche bothe his Sones slouh

Before his yhe, and he outdrouh

His swerd and wold have slayn hir tho,226

Bot farewel, sche was ago

Unto Pallas the Court above,

Wher as sche pleigneth upon love, 4220

As sche that was with that goddesse,

[Pg 62]

And he was left in gret destresse.

Confessor.

Thus miht them se what sorwe it doth

To swere an oth which is noght soth,

In loves cause namely.

Mi Sone, be wel war forthi,

And kep that thou be noght forswore:

For this, which I have told tofore,

Ovide telleth everydel.

Amans.

Mi fader, I may lieve it wel, 4230

P. ii. 269

For I have herde it ofte seie227

Hou Jason tok the flees aweie

Fro Colchos, bot yit herde I noght

Be whom it was ferst thider broght.

And for it were good to hiere,

If that you liste at mi preiere

To telle, I wolde you beseche.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, who that wole it seche,

In bokes he mai finde it write;

And natheles, if thou wolt wite, 4240

In the manere as thou hast preid

I schal the telle hou it is seid.

[Tale of Phrixus and Helle.]

The fame of thilke schepes fell,228

Which in Colchos, as it befell,

Nota qualiter aureum vellus in partes insule Colchos primo deuenit. Athemas Rex Philen habuit coniugem, ex qua Frixum et Hellen genuit: mortua autem229 Philen Athemas Ynonem Regis Cadmi filiam postea in vxorem duxit, que more Nouerce dictos infantes in tantum recollegit odium, quod ambos in mare proici penes Regem procurauit. Vnde Iuno compaciens quendam Arietem grandem aureo vestitum vellere ad litus natantem destinauit; super cuius dorsum pueros apponi iussit. Quo facto Aries super vndas regressus cum solo Frixo sibi adherente in Colchos applicuit, vbi Iuno dictum Arietem cum suo vellere,230 prout in aliis canitur231 cronicis, sub arta custodia collocauit.

Was al of gold, schal nevere deie;

Wherof I thenke for to seie

Hou it cam ferst into that yle.

Ther was a king in thilke whyle

Towardes Grece, and Athemas

The Cronique of his name was; 4250

And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte,

Be whom, so as fortune it dihte,

He hadde of children yonge tuo.

Frixus the ferste was of tho,

A knave child, riht fair withalle;

A dowhter ek, the which men calle

Hellen, he hadde be this wif.

Bot for ther mai no mannes lif

[Pg 63]

Endure upon this Erthe hiere,

This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere, 4260

P. ii. 270

Er that the children were of age,

Tok of hire ende the passage,

With gret worschipe and was begrave.

What thing it liketh god to have

It is gret reson to ben his;

Forthi this king, so as it is,

With gret suffrance it underfongeth:

And afterward, as him belongeth,

Whan it was time forto wedde,

A newe wif he tok to bedde, 4270

Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde,

And ek the dowhter, as men saide,

Of Cadme, which a king also

Was holde in thilke daies tho.

Whan Yno was the kinges make,

Sche caste hou that sche mihte make232

These children to here fader lothe,

And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe,233

Which to the king was al unknowe.

A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe 4280

The lond with sode whete aboute,

Wherof no corn mai springen oute;

And thus be sleyhte and be covine

Aros the derthe and the famine

Thurghout the lond in such a wise,

So that the king a sacrifise

Upon the point of this destresse

To Ceres, which is the goddesse

Of corn, hath schape him forto yive,

To loke if it mai be foryive, 4290

P. ii. 271

The meschief which was in his lond.

Bot sche, which knew tofor the hond

The circumstance of al this thing,

Ayein the cominge of the king

Into the temple, hath schape so,

[Pg 64]

Of hire acord that alle tho

Whiche of the temple prestes were

Have seid and full declared there

Unto the king, bot if so be

That he delivere the contre 4300

Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe,

With whom the goddes ben so wrothe,

That whil tho children ben therinne,

Such tilthe schal noman beginne,

Wherof to gete him eny corn.

Thus was it seid, thus was it sworn

Of all the Prestes that ther are;234

And sche which causeth al this fare

Seid ek therto what that sche wolde,235

And every man thanne after tolde 4310

So as the queene hem hadde preid.236

The king, which hath his Ere leid,

And lieveth al that evere he herde,

Unto here tale thus ansuerde,

And seith that levere him is to chese

Hise children bothe forto lese,

Than him and al the remenant

Of hem whiche are aportenant

Unto the lond which he schal kepe:

And bad his wif to take kepe 4320

P. ii. 272

In what manere is best to done,237

That thei delivered weren sone

Out of this world. And sche anon

Tuo men ordeigneth forto gon;

Bot ferst sche made hem forto swere

That thei the children scholden bere

Unto the See, that non it knowe,

And hem therinne bothe throwe.

The children to the See ben lad,

Wher in the wise as Yno bad238 4330

These men be redy forto do.

Bot the goddesse which Juno

[Pg 65]

Is hote, appiereth in the stede,

And hath unto the men forbede239

That thei the children noght ne sle;

Bot bad hem loke into the See

And taken hiede of that thei sihen.

Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen,

Whos flees of burned gold was al;

And this goddesse forth withal 4340

Comandeth that withoute lette

Thei scholde anon these children sette

Above upon this Schepes bak;240

And al was do, riht as sche spak,

Wherof the men gon hom ayein.

And fell so, as the bokes sein,

Hellen the yonge Mayden tho,

Which of the See was wo bego,

For pure drede hire herte hath lore,241

That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore, 4350

P. ii. 273

As sche that was swounende feint,242

Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint;243

With Frixus and this Schep forth swam,

Til he to thyle of Colchos cam,

Where Juno the goddesse he fond,

Which tok the Schep unto the lond,

And sette it there in such a wise

As thou tofore hast herd devise,

Wherof cam after al the wo,

Why Jason was forswore so 4360

Unto Medee, as it is spoke.244

Amans.

Mi fader, who that hath tobroke

His trouthe, as ye have told above,

He is noght worthi forto love

Ne be beloved, as me semeth:

Bot every newe love quemeth

To him which newefongel is.245

And natheles nou after this,

[Pg 66]

If that you list to taken hiede246

Upon mi Schrifte to procede, 4370

In loves cause ayein the vice

Of covoitise and Avarice

What ther is more I wolde wite.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, this I finde write,

Ther is yit on of thilke brood,

Which only for the worldes good,

To make a Tresor of Moneie,

Put alle conscience aweie:

Wherof in thi confession

The name and the condicion 4380

P. ii. 274

I schal hierafterward declare,

Which makth on riche, an other bare.

[Usury.]

v. Plus capit vsura sibi quam debetur, et illud

Fraude colorata sepe latenter agit.

Sic amor excessus quamsepe suos vt auarus

Spirat, et vnius tres capit ipse loco.

Upon the bench sittende on hih

With Avarice Usure I sih,

Hic tractat de illa specie Auaricie, que Vsura dicitur, cuius creditor in pecunia tantum numerata plusquam sibi de iure debetur incrementum lucri adauget.

Full clothed of his oghne suite,

Which after gold makth chace and suite

With his brocours, that renne aboute

Lich unto racches in a route.

Such lucre is non above grounde,

Which is noght of tho racches founde; 4390

For wher thei se beyete sterte,247

That schal hem in no wise asterte,

Bot thei it dryve into the net

Of lucre, which Usure hath set.

Usure with the riche duelleth,

To al that evere he beith and selleth248

He hath ordeined of his sleyhte

Mesure double and double weyhte:

Outward he selleth be the lasse,

And with the more he makth his tasse, 4400

Wherof his hous is full withinne.

[Pg 67]

He reccheth noght, be so he winne,249

Though that ther lese ten or tuelve:

His love is al toward himselve

And to non other, bot he se

That he mai winne suche thre;

P. ii. 275

For wher he schal oght yive or lene,

He wol ayeinward take a bene,

Ther he hath lent the smale pese.

And riht so ther ben manye of these 4410

Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte,250

That scarsly wolde it weie a myte,

Yit wolde thei have a pound again,251

As doth Usure in his bargain.

Bot certes such usure unliche

It falleth more unto the riche,

Als wel of love as of beyete,

Than unto hem that be noght grete,

And, as who seith, ben simple and povere;

For sielden is whan thei recovere, 4420

Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte.

And natheles men se poverte

With porsuite and continuance252

Fulofte make a gret chevance

And take of love his avantage,253

Forth with the help of his brocage,

That maken seme wher is noght.254

And thus fulofte is love boght

For litel what, and mochel take,

With false weyhtes that thei make. 4430

Confessor.

Nou, Sone, of that I seide above

Thou wost what Usure is of love:

Tell me forthi what so thou wilt,

If thou therof hast eny gilt.

Amans.

Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere.

For of tho pointz ye tolden hiere

P. ii. 276

I wol you be mi trouthe assure,

[Pg 68]

Mi weyhte of love and mi mesure

Hath be mor large and mor certein

Than evere I tok of love ayein: 4440

For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte,

To take ayein be double weyhte

Of love mor than I have yive.

For als so wiss mot I be schrive

And have remission of Sinne,

As so yit couthe I nevere winne,

Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein,

That evere I mihte have half ayein

Of so full love as I have lent:

And if myn happ were so wel went, 4450

That for the hole I mihte have half,

Me thenkth I were a goddeshalf.255

For where Usure wole have double,

Mi conscience is noght so trouble,

I biede nevere as to my del

Bot of the hole an halvendel;

That is non excess, as me thenketh.

Bot natheles it me forthenketh;

For wel I wot that wol noght be,

For every day the betre I se 4460

That hou so evere I yive or lene

Mi love in place ther I mene,256

For oght that evere I axe or crave,

I can nothing ayeinward have.

Bot yit for that I wol noght lete,

What so befalle of mi beyete,

P. ii. 277

That I ne schal hire yive and lene

Mi love and al mi thoght so clene,257

That toward me schal noght beleve.

And if sche of hire goode leve 4470

Rewarde wol me noght again,

I wot the laste of my bargain

Schal stonde upon so gret a lost,

That I mai neveremor the cost

Recovere in this world til I die.

[Pg 69]

So that touchende of this partie

I mai me wel excuse and schal;

And forto speke forth withal,

If eny brocour for me wente,

That point cam nevere in myn entente: 4480

So that the more me merveilleth,

What thing it is mi ladi eilleth,

That al myn herte and al my time

Sche hath, and doth no betre bime.

I have herd seid that thoght is fre,258

And natheles in privete

To you, mi fader, that ben hiere

Min hole schrifte forto hiere,

I dar min herte wel desclose.

Touchende usure, as I suppose, 4490

Which as ye telle in love is used,

Mi ladi mai noght ben excused;

That for o lokinge of hire yë

Min hole herte til I dye

With al that evere I may and can

Sche hath me wonne to hire man:

P. ii. 278

Wherof, me thenkth, good reson wolde

That sche somdel rewarde scholde,

And yive a part, ther sche hath al.

I not what falle hierafter schal, 4500

Bot into nou yit dar I sein,

Hire liste nevere yive ayein

A goodli word in such a wise,

Wherof min hope mihte arise,259

Mi grete love to compense.

I not hou sche hire conscience

Excuse wole of this usure;260

Be large weyhte and gret mesure

Sche hath mi love, and I have noght

Of that which I have diere boght, 4510

And with myn herte I have it paid;

Bot al that is asyde laid,261

And I go loveles aboute.

[Pg 70]

Hire oghte stonde in ful gret doute,

Til sche redresce such a sinne,

That sche wole al mi love winne

And yifth me noght to live by:

Noght als so moche as ‘grant mercy’262

Hir list to seie, of which I mihte

Som of mi grete peine allyhte. 4520

Bot of this point, lo, thus I fare

As he that paith for his chaffare,

And beith it diere, and yit hath non,263

So mot he nedes povere gon:

Thus beie I diere and have no love,264

That I ne mai noght come above265

P. ii. 279

To winne of love non encress.

Bot I me wole natheles

Touchende usure of love aquite;

And if mi ladi be to wyte, 4530

I preie to god such grace hir sende

That sche be time it mot amende.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerd

Touchende Usure I have al herd,

Hou thou of love hast wonne smale:

Bot that thou tellest in thi tale

And thi ladi therof accusest,

Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest.

For be thin oghne knowlechinge

Thou seist hou sche for o lokinge 4540

Thin hole herte fro the tok:

Sche mai be such, that hire o lok

Is worth thin herte manyfold;

So hast thou wel thin herte sold,

Whan thou hast that is more worth.

And ek of that thou tellest forth,

Hou that hire weyhte of love unevene

Is unto thin, under the hevene

Stod nevere in evene that balance

Which stant in loves governance. 4550

Such is the statut of his lawe,

[Pg 71]

That thogh thi love more drawe

And peise in the balance more,

Thou miht noght axe ayein therfore

Of duete, bot al of grace.

For love is lord in every place,

P. ii. 280

Ther mai no lawe him justefie

Be reddour ne be compaignie,

That he ne wole after his wille

Whom that him liketh spede or spille. 4560

To love a man mai wel beginne,

Bot whether he schal lese or winne,

That wot noman til ate laste:

Forthi coveite noght to faste,

Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende,266

Per cas al mai to goode wende.

Bot that thou hast me told and said,

Of o thing I am riht wel paid,267

That thou be sleyhte ne be guile

Of no brocour hast otherwhile 4570

Engined love, for such dede268

Is sore venged, as I rede.

[Love-Brokerage. Tale of Echo.]

Brocours of love that deceiven,

No wonder is thogh thei receiven269

After the wrong that thei decerven;

For whom as evere that thei serven270

And do plesance for a whyle,

Yit ate laste here oghne guile

Hic ponit exemplum contra istos maritos qui vltra id quod proprias habent vxores ad noue voluptatis incrementum alias mulieres superflue lucrari non verentur. Et narrat qualiter Iuno vindictam suam in Eccho decreuit, pro eo quod ipsa Eccho272 in huiusmodi mulierum lucris adquirendis de consilio mariti sui Iouis mediatrix extiterat.

Upon here oghne hed descendeth,271

Which god of his vengance sendeth, 4580

As be ensample of time go

A man mai finde it hath be so.

It fell somtime, as it was sene,

The hihe goddesse and the queene

Juno tho hadde in compainie

A Maiden full of tricherie;

P. ii. 281

For sche was evere in on acord273

[Pg 72]

With Jupiter, that was hire lord,

To gete him othre loves newe,

Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe 4590

Al otherwise than him nedeth.

Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth,

With queinte wordes and with slyhe

Blente in such wise hir lady yhe,

As sche to whom that Juno triste,274

So that therof sche nothing wiste.

Bot so prive mai be nothing,

That it ne comth to knowleching;

Thing don upon the derke nyht

Is after knowe on daies liht: 4600

So it befell, that ate laste

Al that this slyhe maiden caste

Was overcast and overthrowe.

For as the sothe mot be knowe,

To Juno was don understonde

In what manere hir housebonde

With fals brocage hath take usure

Of love mor than his mesure,

Whan he tok othre than his wif,

Wherof this mayden was gultif, 4610

Which hadde ben of his assent.

And thus was al the game schent;275

Sche soffreth him, as sche mot nede,

Bot the brocour of his misdede,

Sche which hir conseil yaf therto,

On hire is the vengance do:

P. ii. 282

For Juno with hire wordes hote,

This Maiden, which Eccho was hote,

Reproveth and seith in this wise:

‘O traiteresse, of which servise 4620

Hast thou thin oghne ladi served!

Thou hast gret peine wel deserved,

That thou canst maken it so queinte,

Thi slyhe wordes forto peinte

Towardes me, that am thi queene,

Wherof thou madest me to wene

[Pg 73]

That myn housbonde trewe were,

Whan that he loveth elleswhere,

Al be it so him nedeth noght.

Bot upon thee it schal be boght, 4630

Which art prive to tho doinges,

And me fulofte of thi lesinges

Deceived hast: nou is the day

That I thi while aquite may;276

And for thou hast to me conceled

That my lord hath with othre deled,

I schal thee sette in such a kende,

That evere unto the worldes ende

Al that thou hierest thou schalt telle,

And clappe it out as doth a belle.’ 4640

And with that word sche was forschape,

Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape,277

What man that in the wodes crieth,278

Withoute faile Eccho replieth,

And what word that him list to sein,

The same word sche seith ayein.

P. ii. 283

Thus sche, which whilom hadde leve

To duelle in chambre, mot beleve

In wodes and on helles bothe,

For such brocage as wyves lothe, 4650

Which doth here lordes hertes change279

And love in other place strange.280

Confessor.

Forthi, if evere it so befalle,

That thou, mi Sone, amonges alle

Be wedded man, hold that thou hast,

For thanne al other love is wast.

O wif schal wel to thee suffise,

And thanne, if thou for covoitise

Of love woldest axe more,

Thou scholdest don ayein the lore 4660

Of alle hem that trewe be.

Amans.

Mi fader, as in this degre

My conscience is noght accused;

[Pg 74]

For I no such brocage have used,

Wherof that lust of love is wonne.

Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne,

Of Avarice upon mi schrifte.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, I schal the branches schifte

Be ordre so as thei ben set,

On whom no good is wel beset. 4670

[Parsimony.]

vi. Pro verbis verba, munus pro munere reddi

Convenit, vt pondus equa statera gerat.

Propterea cupido non dat sua dona Cupido,

Nam qui nulla serit, gramina nulla metet.

Blinde Avarice of his lignage281

For conseil and for cousinage,

P. ii. 284

To be withholde ayein largesse,

Hic tractat super illa specie Auaricie que Parcimonia dicitur, cuius natura tenax aliqualem sue substancie porcionem aut deo aut hominibus participare nullatenus consentit.

Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse,

The which is kepere of his hous,

And is so thurghout averous,

That he no good let out of honde;

Thogh god himself it wolde fonde,

Of yifte scholde he nothing have;

And if a man it wolde crave,282 4680

He moste thanne faile nede,

Wher god himselve mai noght spede.283

And thus Skarsnesse in every place

Be reson mai no thonk porchace,

And natheles in his degree

Above alle othre most prive

With Avarice stant he this.

For he governeth that ther is

In ech astat of his office

After the reule of thilke vice; 4690

He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint,

That lihtere is to fle the flint

Than gete of him in hard or neisshe

Only the value of a reysshe

Of good in helpinge of an other,

Noght thogh it were his oghne brother.

[Pg 75]

For in the cas of yifte and lone

Stant every man for him al one,

Him thenkth of his unkindeschipe

That him nedeth no felaschipe: 4700

Be so the bagge and he acorden,284

Him reccheth noght what men recorden

P. ii. 285

Of him, or it be evel or good.

For al his trust is on his good,

So that al one he falleth ofte,

Whan he best weneth stonde alofte,

Als wel in love as other wise;

For love is evere of som reprise

To him that wole his love holde.

Forthi, mi Sone, as thou art holde, 4710

Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte:

Hast thou be scars or large of yifte

Unto thi love, whom thou servest?

For after that thou wel deservest

Of yifte, thou miht be the bet;

For that good holde I wel beset,

For why thou miht the betre fare;285

Thanne is no wisdom forto spare.

For thus men sein, in every nede

He was wys that ferst made mede; 4720

For where as mede mai noght spede,

I not what helpeth other dede:

Fulofte he faileth of his game

That wol with ydel hand reclame

His hauk, as many a nyce doth.

Forthi, mi Sone, tell me soth

And sei the trouthe, if thou hast be

Unto thy love or skars or fre.

Confessio Amantis.

Mi fader, it hath stonde thus,

That if the tresor of Cresus 4730

And al the gold Octovien,

Forth with the richesse Yndien286

P. ii. 286

Of Perles and of riche stones,

Were al togedre myn at ones,

[Pg 76]

I sette it at nomore acompte

Than wolde a bare straw amonte,

To yive it hire al in a day,

Be so that to that suete may287

I myhte like or more or lesse.288

And thus be cause of my scarsnesse 4740

Ye mai wel understonde and lieve

That I schal noght the worse achieve289

The pourpos which is in my thoght.

Bot yit I yaf hir nevere noght,

Ne therto dorste a profre make;

For wel I wot sche wol noght take,

And yive wol sche noght also,

She is eschu of bothe tuo.

And this I trowe be the skile

Towardes me, for sche ne wile 4750

That I have eny cause of hope,

Noght also mochel as a drope.

Bot toward othre, as I mai se,

Sche takth and yifth in such degre,

That as be weie of frendlihiede

Sche can so kepe hir wommanhiede,

That every man spekth of hir wel.

Bot sche wole take of me no del,

And yit sche wot wel that I wolde

Yive and do bothe what I scholde 4760

To plesen hire in al my myht:

Be reson this wot every wyht,

P. ii. 287

For that mai be no weie asterte,

Ther sche is maister of the herte,

Sche mot be maister of the good.

For god wot wel that al my mod

And al min herte and al mi thoght

And al mi good, whil I have oght,

Als freliche as god hath it yive,

It schal ben hires, while I live,290 4770

Riht as hir list hirself commande.

So that it nedeth no demande,

[Pg 77]

To axe of me if I be scars

To love, for as to tho pars

I wole ansuere and seie no.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, that is riht wel do.

For often times of scarsnesse

It hath be sen, that for the lesse

Is lost the more, as thou schalt hiere

A tale lich to this matiere. 4780

[Tale of Babio and Croceus.]

Skarsnesse and love acorden nevere,

For every thing is wel the levere,

Whan that a man hath boght it diere:

Hic loquitur contra istos, qui Auaricia stricti largitatis beneficium in amoris causa confundunt. Et ponit exemplum, qualiter Croceus largus et hillaris Babionem292 auarum et tenacem de amore Viole, que pulcherrima fuit, donis largissimis circumuenit.

And forto speke in this matiere,

For sparinge of a litel cost

Fulofte time a man hath lost

The large cote for the hod.

What man that scars is of his good291

And wol noght yive, he schal noght take:

With yifte a man mai undertake 4790

The hihe god to plese and queme,

With yifte a man the world mai deme;293

P. ii. 288

For every creature bore,

If thou him yive, is glad therfore,

And every gladschipe, as I finde,

Is confort unto loves kinde

And causeth ofte a man to spede.

So was he wys that ferst yaf mede,

For mede kepeth love in house;

Bot wher the men ben coveitouse 4800

And sparen forto yive a part,

Thei knowe noght Cupides art:

For his fortune and his aprise

Desdeigneth alle coveitise

And hateth alle nygardie.

And forto loke of this partie,

A soth ensample, hou it is so,

I finde write of Babio;294

Which hadde a love at his menage,

[Pg 78]

Ther was non fairere of hire age, 4810

And hihte Viola be name;

Which full of youthe and ful of game

Was of hirself, and large and fre,

Bot such an other chinche as he295

Men wisten noght in al the lond,

And hadde affaited to his hond

His servant, the which Spodius296

Was hote. And in this wise thus297

The worldes good of sufficance

Was had, bot likinge and plesance, 4820

Of that belongeth to richesse

Of love, stod in gret destresse;

P. ii. 289

So that this yonge lusty wyht

Of thing which fell to loves riht

Was evele served overal,

That sche was wo bego withal,

Til that Cupide and Venus eke

A medicine for the seke

Ordeigne wolden in this cas.

So as fortune thanne was, 4830

Of love upon the destine

It fell, riht as it scholde be,

A freissh, a fre, a frendly man

That noght of Avarice can,

Which Croceus be name hihte,

Toward this swete caste his sihte,

And ther sche was cam in presence.

Sche sih him large of his despence,

And amorous and glad of chiere,

So that hir liketh wel to hiere 4840

The goodly wordes whiche he seide;

And therupon of love he preide,

Of love was al that he mente,

To love and for sche scholde assente,

He yaf hire yiftes evere among.

Bot for men sein that mede is strong,

It was wel seene at thilke tyde;

[Pg 79]

For as it scholde of ryht betyde,

This Viola largesce hath take

And the nygard sche hath forsake: 4850

Of Babio sche wol no more,298

For he was grucchende everemore,

P. ii. 290

Ther was with him non other fare

Bot forto prinche and forto spare,

Of worldes muk to gete encress.

So goth the wrecche loveles,299

Bejaped for his Skarcete,

And he that large was and fre

And sette his herte to despende,

This Croceus, the bowe bende, 4860

Which Venus tok him forto holde,

And schotte als ofte as evere he wolde.300

Lo, thus departeth love his lawe,

That what man wol noght be felawe

To yive and spende, as I thee telle,

He is noght worthi forto duelle

In loves court to be relieved.

Forthi, my Sone, if I be lieved,301

Thou schalt be large of thi despence.

Amans.

Mi fader, in mi conscience 4870

If ther be eny thing amis,

I wol amende it after this,302

Toward mi love namely.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, wel and redely

Thou seist, so that wel paid withal

I am, and forthere if I schal

Unto thi schrifte specefie303

Of Avarices progenie

What vice suieth after this,

Thou schalt have wonder hou it is, 4880

Among the folk in eny regne

That such a vice myhte regne,

P. ii. 291

Which is comun at alle assaies,

As men mai finde nou adaies.

[Pg 80]

[Ingratitude.]

vii. Cuncta creatura, deus et qui cuncta creauit,

Dampnant ingrati dicta que facta viri.304

Non dolor alonge stat, quo sibi talis amicam305

Traxit, et in fine deserit esse suam.

The vice lik unto the fend,

Which nevere yit was mannes frend,

And cleped is Unkindeschipe,

Hic loquitur super illa aborta specie Auaricie, que Ingratitudo, dicta est, cuius condicionem non solum creator, set eciam cuncte creature abhominabilem detestantur.

Of covine and of felaschipe

With Avarice he is withholde.

Him thenkth he scholde noght ben holde 4890

Unto the moder which him bar;

Of him mai nevere man be war,

He wol noght knowe the merite,

For that he wolde it noght aquite;

Which in this world is mochel used,

And fewe ben therof excused.

To telle of him is endeles,

Bot this I seie natheles,

Wher as this vice comth to londe,

Ther takth noman his thonk on honde; 4900

Thogh he with alle his myhtes serve,

He schal of him no thonk deserve.

He takth what eny man wol yive,

Bot whil he hath o day to live,

He wol nothing rewarde ayein;

He gruccheth forto yive o grein,

Wher he hath take a berne full.

That makth a kinde herte dull,

P. ii. 292

To sette his trust in such frendschipe,

Ther as he fint no kindeschipe; 4910

And forto speke wordes pleine,

Thus hiere I many a man compleigne,

That nou on daies thou schalt finde

At nede fewe frendes kinde;

What thou hast don for hem tofore,

It is foryete, as it were lore.

The bokes speken of this vice,

And telle hou god of his justice,

[Pg 81]

Be weie of kinde and ek nature

And every lifissh creature,306 4920

The lawe also, who that it kan,307

Thei dampnen an unkinde man.

It is al on to seie unkinde

As thing which don is ayein kinde,

For it with kinde nevere stod

A man to yelden evel for good.

For who that wolde taken hede,

A beste is glad of a good dede,

And loveth thilke creature

After the lawe of his nature 4930

Which doth him ese. And forto se

Of this matiere Auctorite,

Fulofte time it hath befalle;

Wherof a tale amonges alle,

Which is of olde ensamplerie,308

I thenke forto specefie.

[Tale of Adrian and Bardus.]

To speke of an unkinde man,

I finde hou whilom Adrian,

P. ii. 293

Of Rome which a gret lord was,

Hic dicit qualiter bestie in suis beneficiis hominem ingratum naturaliter precellunt. Et ponit exemplum de Adriano Rome Cenatore, qui in quadam Foresta venacionibus insistens, dum predam persequeretur, in Cisternam profundam nescia familia corruit: vbi superueniens quidam pauper nomine Bardus, immissa cordula, putans hominem extraxisse, primo Simeam extraxit, secundo Serpentem, tercio Adrianum, qui pauperem despiciens aliquid ei pro benefacto reddere recusabat. Set tam Serpens quam Simea gratuita beneuolencia ipsum311 singulis donis sufficienter remunerarent.

Upon a day as he per cas 4940

To wode in his huntinge wente,

It hapneth at a soudein wente,309

After his chace as he poursuieth,

Thurgh happ, the which noman eschuieth,310

He fell unwar into a pet,

Wher that it mihte noght be let.

The pet was dep and he fell lowe,

That of his men non myhte knowe

Wher he becam, for non was nyh,

Which of his fall the meschief syh. 4950

And thus al one ther he lay

Clepende and criende al the day

For socour and deliverance,

[Pg 82]

Til ayein Eve it fell per chance,

A while er it began to nyhte,

A povere man, which Bardus hihte,

Cam forth walkende with his asse,

And hadde gadred him a tasse

Of grene stickes and of dreie

To selle, who that wolde hem beie, 4960

As he which hadde no liflode,

Bot whanne he myhte such a lode

To toune with his Asse carie.

And as it fell him forto tarie

That ilke time nyh the pet,

And hath the trusse faste knet,

He herde a vois, which cride dimme,

And he his Ere to the brimme

P. ii. 294

Hath leid, and herde it was a man,

Which seide, ‘Ha, help hier Adrian, 4970

And I wol yiven half mi good.’

The povere man this understod,

As he that wolde gladly winne,

And to this lord which was withinne

He spak and seide, ‘If I thee save,

What sikernesse schal I have

Of covenant, that afterward

Thou wolt me yive such reward

As thou behihtest nou tofore?’

That other hath his othes swore 4980

Be hevene and be the goddes alle,312

If that it myhte so befalle

That he out of the pet him broghte,

Of all the goodes whiche he oghte313

He schal have evene halvendel.

This Bardus seide he wolde wel;

And with this word his Asse anon

He let untrusse, and therupon

Doun goth the corde into the pet,314

To which he hath at ende knet 4990

A staf, wherby, he seide, he wolde[Pg 83]

That Adrian him scholde holde.

Bot it was tho per chance falle,

Into that pet was also falle315

An Ape, which at thilke throwe,

Whan that the corde cam doun lowe,

Al sodeinli therto he skipte

And it in bothe hise armes clipte.

P. ii. 295

And Bardus with his Asse anon

Him hath updrawe, and he is gon. 5000

But whan he sih it was an Ape,

He wende al hadde ben a jape

Of faierie, and sore him dradde:316

And Adrian eftsone gradde

For help, and cride and preide faste,

And he eftsone his corde caste;

Bot whan it cam unto the grounde,

A gret Serpent it hath bewounde,

The which Bardus anon up drouh.

And thanne him thoghte wel ynouh, 5010

It was fantosme, bot yit he herde317

The vois, and he therto ansuerde,

‘What wiht art thou in goddes name?’

‘I am,’ quod Adrian, ‘the same,

Whos good thou schalt have evene half.’

Quod Bardus, ‘Thanne a goddes half

The thridde time assaie I schal’:

And caste his corde forth withal

Into the pet, and whan it cam

To him, this lord of Rome it nam, 5020

And therupon him hath adresced,318

And with his hand fulofte blessed,

And thanne he bad to Bardus hale.

And he, which understod his tale,

Betwen him and his Asse al softe319

Hath drawe and set him up alofte

[Pg 84]

Withouten harm al esely.

He seith noght ones ‘grant merci,’

P. ii. 296

Bot strauhte him forth to the cite,

And let this povere Bardus be. 5030

And natheles this simple man

His covenant, so as he can,

Hath axed; and that other seide,

If so be that he him umbreide320

Of oght that hath be speke or do,321

It schal ben venged on him so,

That him were betre to be ded.

And he can tho non other red,

But on his asse ayein he caste

His trusse, and hieth homward faste: 5040

And whan that he cam hom to bedde,

He tolde his wif hou that he spedde.

Bot finaly to speke oght more

Unto this lord he dradde him sore,

So that a word ne dorste he sein:322

And thus upon the morwe ayein,

In the manere as I recorde,

Forth with his Asse and with his corde

To gadre wode, as he dede er,

He goth; and whan that he cam ner 5050

Unto the place where he wolde,323

He hath his Ape anon beholde,

Which hadde gadred al aboute

Of stickes hiere and there a route,324

And leide hem redy to his hond,

Wherof he made his trosse and bond;

Fro dai to dai and in this wise

This Ape profreth his servise,

P. ii. 297

So that he hadde of wode ynouh.

Upon a time and as he drouh 5060

Toward the wode, he sih besyde

The grete gastli Serpent glyde,

Til that sche cam in his presence,

[Pg 85]

And in hir kinde a reverence325

Sche hath him do, and forth withal

A Ston mor briht than a cristall

Out of hir mouth tofore his weie

Sche let doun falle, and wente aweie,

For that he schal noght ben adrad.

Tho was this povere Bardus glad, 5070

Thonkende god, and to the Ston326

He goth and takth it up anon,

And hath gret wonder in his wit

Hou that the beste him hath aquit,

Wher that the mannes Sone hath failed,

For whom he hadde most travailed.

Bot al he putte in goddes hond,

And torneth hom, and what he fond

Unto his wif he hath it schewed;

And thei, that weren bothe lewed, 5080

Acorden that he scholde it selle.

And he no lengere wolde duelle,

Bot forth anon upon the tale

The Ston he profreth to the sale;

And riht as he himself it sette,

The jueler anon forth fette

The gold and made his paiement,

Therof was no delaiement.

P. ii. 298

Thus whan this Ston was boght and sold,

Homward with joie manyfold 5090

This Bardus goth; and whan he cam

Hom to his hous and that he nam

His gold out of his Purs, withinne

He fond his Ston also therinne,

Wherof for joie his herte pleide,

Unto his wif and thus he seide,

‘Lo, hier my gold, lo, hier mi Ston!’

His wif hath wonder therupon,

And axeth him hou that mai be.

‘Nou be mi trouthe I not,’ quod he, 5100

‘Bot I dar swere upon a bok,

[Pg 86]

That to my Marchant I it tok,327

And he it hadde whan I wente:

So knowe I noght to what entente

It is nou hier, bot it be grace.328

Forthi tomorwe in other place

I wole it fonde forto selle,

And if it wol noght with him duelle,

Bot crepe into mi purs ayein,

Than dar I saufly swere and sein, 5110

It is the vertu of the Ston.’329

The morwe cam, and he is gon

To seche aboute in other stede

His Ston to selle, and he so dede,330

And lefte it with his chapman there.

Bot whan that he cam elleswhere,

In presence of his wif at hom,

Out of his Purs and that he nom

P. ii. 299

His gold, he fond his Ston withal:

And thus it fell him overal, 5120

Where he it solde in sondri place,

Such was the fortune and the grace.

Bot so wel may nothing ben hidd,

That it nys ate laste kidd:

This fame goth aboute Rome331

So ferforth, that the wordes come

To themperour Justinian;

And he let sende for the man,332

And axede him hou that it was.

And Bardus tolde him al the cas,333 5130

Hou that the worm and ek the beste,334

Althogh thei maden no beheste,

His travail hadden wel aquit;

Bot he which hadde a mannes wit,335

And made his covenant be mouthe

And swor therto al that he couthe

To parte and yiven half his good,

[Pg 87]

Hath nou foryete hou that it stod,

As he which wol no trouthe holde.

This Emperour al that he tolde 5140

Hath herd, and thilke unkindenesse

He seide he wolde himself redresse.

And thus in court of juggement

This Adrian was thanne assent,

And the querele in audience336

Declared was in the presence

Of themperour and many mo;

Wherof was mochel speche tho

P. ii. 300

And gret wondringe among the press.

Bot ate laste natheles 5150

For the partie which hath pleigned

The lawe hath diemed and ordeigned

Be hem that were avised wel,

That he schal have the halvendel

Thurghout of Adrianes good.

And thus of thilke unkinde blod

Stant the memoire into this day,337

Wherof that every wysman may338

Ensamplen him, and take in mynde339

[Ingratitude.]

What schame it is to ben unkinde; 5160

Ayein the which reson debateth,

And every creature it hateth.

Confessor.

Forthi, mi Sone, in thin office

I rede fle that ilke vice.

For riht as the Cronique seith

Of Adrian, hou he his feith

Foryat for worldes covoitise,

Fulofte in such a maner wise

Of lovers nou a man mai se

Full manye that unkinde be: 5170

For wel behote and evele laste

That is here lif; for ate laste,

Whan that thei have here wille do,

Here love is after sone ago.

What seist thou, Sone, to this cas?

[Pg 88]

Amans.

Mi fader, I wol seie Helas,

That evere such a man was bore,

Which whan he hath his trouthe suore

P. ii. 301

And hath of love what he wolde,

That he at eny time scholde340 5180

Evere after in his herte finde

To falsen and to ben unkinde.

Bot, fader, as touchende of me,

I mai noght stonde in that degre;

For I tok nevere of love why,

That I ne mai wel go therby

And do my profit elles where,

For eny sped I finde there.

I dar wel thenken al aboute,

Bot I ne dar noght speke it oute; 5190

And if I dorste, I wolde pleigne,

That sche for whom I soffre peine

And love hir evere aliche hote,

That nouther yive ne behote

In rewardinge of mi servise

It list hire in no maner wise.

I wol noght say that sche is kinde,

And forto sai sche is unkinde,

That dar I noght; bot god above,341

Which demeth every herte of love, 5200

He wot that on myn oghne side

Schal non unkindeschipe abide:

If it schal with mi ladi duelle,

Therof dar I nomore telle.342

Nou, goode fader, as it is,

Tell me what thenketh you of this.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, of that unkindeschipe,

The which toward thi ladischipe

P. ii. 302

Thou pleignest, for sche wol thee noght,

Thou art to blamen of that thoght.343 5210

For it mai be that thi desir,

Thogh it brenne evere as doth the fyr,

Per cas to hire honour missit,

[Pg 89]

Or elles time com noght yit,

Which standt upon thi destine:344

Forthi, mi Sone, I rede thee,

Thenk wel, what evere the befalle;

For noman hath his lustes alle.

Bot as thou toldest me before

That thou to love art noght forswore, 5220

And hast don non unkindenesse,

Thou miht therof thi grace blesse:

And lef noght that continuance;

For ther mai be no such grevance

To love, as is unkindeschipe.345

Wherof to kepe thi worschipe,

So as these olde bokes tale,

I schal thee telle a redi tale:

Nou herkne and be wel war therby,

For I wol telle it openly. 5230

[Tale of Theseus and Ariadne.]

Mynos, as telleth the Poete,

The which whilom was king of Crete,

A Sone hadde and Androchee

Hic ponit exemplum contra viros amori ingratos. Et narrat qualiter Theseus Cadmi filius, consilio suffultus347 Adriagne Regis Mynos filie, in domo que laborinthus dicitur Minotaurum vicit:348 vnde Theseus Adriagne sponsalia certissime promittens ipsam vna cum Fedra sorore sua a Creta secum nauigio duxit. Set statim postea oblito gratitudinis beneficio Adriagnam ipsum saluantem in insula Chio spretam post tergum reliquit; et Fedram Athenis sibi sponsatam ingratus coronauit.

He hihte: and so befell that he

Unto Athenes forto lere

Was send, and so he bar him there,346

For that he was of hih lignage,

Such pride he tok in his corage,

P. ii. 303

That he foryeten hath the Scoles,

And in riote among the foles 5240

He dede manye thinges wronge;

And useth thilke lif so longe,349

Til ate laste of that he wroghte

He fond the meschief which he soghte,

Wherof it fell that he was slain.

His fader, which it herde sain,

Was wroth, and al that evere he mihte,

Of men of Armes he him dighte350

A strong pouer, and forth he wente

[Pg 90]

Unto Athenys, where he brente

The pleine contre al aboute: 5250

The Cites stode of him in doute,

As thei that no defence hadde351

Ayein the pouer which he ladde.

Egeüs, which was there king,

His conseil tok upon this thing,

For he was thanne in the Cite:

So that of pes into tretee

Betwen Mynos and Egeüs

Thei felle, and ben acorded thus; 5260

That king Mynos fro yer to yeere

Receive schal, as thou schalt here,

Out of Athenys for truage

Of men that were of myhti Age

Persones nyne, of whiche he schal

His wille don in special

For vengance of his Sones deth.

Non other grace ther ne geth,

P. ii. 304

Bot forto take the juise;

And that was don in such a wise, 5270

Which stod upon a wonder cas.

For thilke time so it was,

Wherof that men yit rede and singe,

King Mynos hadde in his kepinge

A cruel Monstre, as seith the geste:

For he was half man and half beste,

And Minotaurus he was hote,352

Which was begete in a riote

Upon Pasiphe, his oghne wif,

Whil he was oute upon the strif 5280

Of thilke grete Siege at Troie.353

Bot sche, which lost hath alle joie,354

Whan that sche syh this Monstre bore,

Bad men ordeigne anon therfore:

And fell that ilke time thus,

Ther was a Clerk, on Dedalus,

Which hadde ben of hire assent

[Pg 91]

Of that hir world was so miswent;355

And he made of his oghne wit,

Wherof the remembrance is yit, 5290

For Minotaure such an hous,

Which was so strange and merveilous,

That what man that withinne wente,

Ther was so many a sondri wente,

That he ne scholde noght come oute,

But gon amased al aboute.

And in this hous to loke and warde

Was Minotaurus put in warde,

P. ii. 305

That what lif that therinne cam,356

Or man or beste, he overcam 5300

And slow, and fedde him therupon;

And in this wise many on357

Out of Athenys for truage

Devoured weren in that rage.

For every yeer thei schope hem so,

Thei of Athenys, er thei go

Toward that ilke wofull chance,

As it was set in ordinance,358

Upon fortune here lot thei caste;

Til that Theseüs ate laste, 5310

Which was the kinges Sone there,

Amonges othre that ther were

In thilke yeer, as it befell,

The lot upon his chance fell.

He was a worthi kniht withalle;

And whan he sih this chance falle,359

He ferde as thogh he tok non hiede,

Bot al that evere he mihte spiede,

With him and with his felaschipe

Forth into Crete he goth be Schipe; 5320

Wher that the king Mynos he soghte,360

And profreth all that he him oghte

Upon the point of here acord.

[Pg 92]

This sterne king, this cruel lord

Tok every day on of the Nyne,

And put him to the discipline361

Of Minotaure, to be devoured;

Bot Theseüs was so favoured,

P. ii. 306

That he was kept til ate laste.

And in the meene while he caste 5330

What thing him were best to do:

And fell that Adriagne tho,

Which was the dowhter of Mynos,

And hadde herd the worthi los

Of Theseüs and of his myht,

And syh he was a lusti kniht,

Hire hole herte on him sche leide,

And he also of love hir preide,

So ferforth that thei were al on.

And sche ordeigneth thanne anon 5340

In what manere he scholde him save,362

And schop so that sche dede him have

A clue of thred, of which withinne

Ferst ate dore he schal beginne

With him to take that on ende,

That whan he wolde ayeinward wende,363

He mihte go the same weie.

And over this, so as I seie,

Of pich sche tok him a pelote,364

The which he scholde into the throte 5350

Of Minotaure caste rihte:

Such wepne also for him sche dighte,

That he be reson mai noght faile

To make an ende of his bataile;

For sche him tawhte in sondri wise,

Til he was knowe of thilke emprise,

Hou he this beste schulde quelle.365

And thus, schort tale forto telle,

P. ii. 307

So as this Maide him hadde tawht,366

[Pg 93]

Theseüs with this Monstre fawht, 5360

Smot of his hed, the which he nam,

And be the thred, so as he cam,

He goth ayein, til he were oute.

Tho was gret wonder al aboute:367

Mynos the tribut hath relessed,

And so was al the werre cessed

Betwen Athene and hem of Crete.

Bot now to speke of thilke suete,

Whos beaute was withoute wane,

This faire Maiden Adriane, 5370

Whan that sche sih Theseüs sound,

Was nevere yit upon the ground368

A gladder wyht than sche was tho.

Theseüs duelte a dai or tuo

Wher that Mynos gret chiere him dede:

Theseüs in a prive stede

Hath with this Maiden spoke and rouned,

That sche to him was abandouned

In al that evere that sche couthe,

So that of thilke lusty youthe 5380

Al prively betwen hem tweie

The ferste flour he tok aweie.

For he so faire tho behihte

That evere, whil he live mihte,

He scholde hire take for his wif,

And as his oghne hertes lif

He scholde hire love and trouthe bere;369

And sche, which mihte noght forbere,

P. ii. 308

So sore loveth him ayein,

That what as evere he wolde sein 5390

With al hire herte sche believeth.

And thus his pourpos he achieveth,

So that assured of his trouthe

With him sche wente, and that was routhe.

Fedra hire yonger Soster eke,

A lusti Maide, a sobre, a meke,

Fulfild of alle curtesie,

[Pg 94]

For Sosterhode and compainie

Of love, which was hem betuene,

To sen hire Soster mad a queene, 5400

Hire fader lefte and forth sche wente

With him, which al his ferste entente

Foryat withinne a litel throwe,

So that it was al overthrowe,

Whan sche best wende it scholde stonde.

The Schip was blowe fro the londe,

Wherin that thei seilende were;

This Adriagne hath mochel fere

Of that the wynd so loude bleu,

As sche which of the See ne kneu, 5410

And preide forto reste a whyle.370

And so fell that upon an yle,

Which Chyo hihte, thei ben drive,

Where he to hire his leve hath yive

That sche schal londe and take hire reste.

Bot that was nothing for the beste:

For whan sche was to londe broght,

Sche, which that time thoghte noght

P. ii. 309

Bot alle trouthe, and tok no kepe,

Hath leid hire softe forto slepe, 5420

As sche which longe hath ben forwacched;

Bot certes sche was evele macched

And fer from alle loves kinde;

For more than the beste unkinde

Theseüs, which no trouthe kepte,

Whil that this yonge ladi slepte,

Fulfild of his unkindeschipe371

Hath al foryete the goodschipe

Which Adriane him hadde do,

And bad unto the Schipmen tho372 5430

Hale up the seil and noght abyde,

And forth he goth the same tyde

Toward Athene, and hire alonde

He lefte, which lay nyh the stronde

[Pg 95]

Slepende, til that sche awok.

Bot whan that sche cast up hire lok

Toward the stronde and sih no wyht,

Hire herte was so sore aflyht,373

That sche ne wiste what to thinke;

Bot drouh hire to the water brinke, 5440

Wher sche behield the See at large.

Sche sih no Schip, sche sih no barge

Als ferforth as sche mihte kenne:

‘Ha lord,’ sche seide, ‘which a Senne,

As al the world schal after hiere,

Upon this woful womman hiere

This worthi kniht hath don and wroght!

I wende I hadde his love boght,

P. ii. 310

And so deserved ate nede,374

Whan that he stod upon his drede, 5450

And ek the love he me behihte.

It is gret wonder hou he mihte

Towardes me nou ben unkinde,

And so to lete out of his mynde

Thing which he seide his oghne mouth.

Bot after this whan it is couth375

And drawe into the worldes fame,376

It schal ben hindringe of his name:

For wel he wot and so wot I,

He yaf his trouthe bodily, 5460

That he myn honour scholde kepe.’

And with that word sche gan to wepe,

And sorweth more than ynouh:

Hire faire tresces sche todrouh,377

And with hirself tok such a strif,378

That sche betwen the deth and lif379

Swounende lay fulofte among.380

And al was this on him along,

Which was to love unkinde so,

Wherof the wrong schal everemo 5470

Stonde in Cronique of remembrance.[Pg 96]

And ek it asketh a vengance

To ben unkinde in loves cas,

So as Theseüs thanne was,

Al thogh he were a noble kniht;

For he the lawe of loves riht

Forfeted hath in alle weie,

That Adriagne he putte aweie,

P. ii. 311

Which was a gret unkinde dede:

And after this, so as I rede,381 5480

Fedra, the which hir Soster is,

He tok in stede of hire, and this

Fel afterward to mochel teene.

For thilke vice of which I meene,

Unkindeschipe, where it falleth,

The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth,

That he can no good dede aquite:

So mai he stonde of no merite

Towardes god, and ek also

Men clepen him the worldes fo; 5490

For he nomore than the fend

Unto non other man is frend,

Bot al toward himself al one.

Forthi, mi Sone, in thi persone

This vice above alle othre fle.

Mi fader, as ye techen me,

I thenke don in this matiere.

Bot over this nou wolde I hiere,

Wherof I schal me schryve more.

Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore,382 5500

After the reule of coveitise

I schal the proprete devise

Of every vice by and by.

Nou herkne and be wel war therby.

[Ravine.]

viii. Viribus ex clara res tollit luce Rapina,

Floris et inuita virgine mella capit.

In the lignage of Avarice,

Hic tractat super illa specie cupida que Rapina nuncupatur, cuius mater extorcio ipsam ad deseruiendum magnatum curiis specialius commendauit.

Mi Sone, yit ther is a vice,

[Pg 97]

P. ii. 312

His rihte name it is Ravine,383

Which hath a route of his covine.

Ravine among the maistres duelleth,

And with his servantz, as men telleth,384 5510

Extorcion is nou withholde:

Ravine of othre mennes folde

Makth his larder and paieth noght;

For wher as evere it mai be soght,

In his hous ther schal nothing lacke,

And that fulofte abyth the packe

Of povere men that duelle aboute.

Thus stant the comun poeple in doute,

Which can do non amendement;

For whanne him faileth paiement,385 5520

Ravine makth non other skile,

Bot takth be strengthe what he wile.386

So ben ther in the same wise

Lovers, as I thee schal devise,387

That whan noght elles mai availe,

Anon with strengthe thei assaile

And gete of love the sesine,388

Whan thei se time, be Ravine.

Confessor.

Forthi, mi Sone, schrif thee hier,

If thou hast ben a Raviner 5530

Of love.

Amans.

Certes, fader, no:

For I mi ladi love so,389

That thogh I were as was Pompeie,390

That al the world me wolde obeie,

Or elles such as Alisandre,

I wolde noght do such a sklaundre;

P. ii. 313

It is no good man, which so doth.

Confessor.

In good feith, Sone, thou seist soth:

For he that wole of pourveance391

Be such a weie his lust avance, 5540

He schal it after sore abie,[Pg 98]

Bot if these olde ensamples lie.

Amans.

Nou, goode fader, tell me on,

So as ye cunne manyon,

Touchende of love in this matiere.

Confessor.

Nou list, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere,392

So as it hath befalle er this,

In loves cause hou that it is

A man to take be Ravine

The preie which is femeline. 5550

[Tale of Tereus.]

Ther was a real noble king,

And riche of alle worldes thing,

Which of his propre enheritance

Hic ponit exemplum contra istos in amoris causa raptores. Et narrat qualiter Pandion Rex Athenarum duas filias,393 videlicet Progne et Philomenam, habuit. Progne autem Tereo394 Regi Tracie desponsata, contigit quod cum395 Tereus ad instanciam vxoris396 sue Philomenam de Athenis in Traciam sororie visitacionis causa secum quadam vice perduceret, in concupiscenciam Philomene tanta seueritate in itinere dilapsus est, quod ipse non solum sue violencia rapine virginitatem eius oppressit, set et ipsius linguam, ne factum detegeret, forpice mutulauit. Vnde in perpetue memorie Cronicam tanti raptoris austeritatem miro ordine dii postea vindicarunt.

Athenes hadde in governance,

And who so thenke therupon,

His name was king Pandion.

Tuo douhtres hadde he be his wif,

The whiche he lovede as his lif;

The ferste douhter Progne hihte,

And the secounde, as sche wel mihte,397 5560

Was cleped faire Philomene,

To whom fell after mochel tene.

The fader of his pourveance

His doughter Progne wolde avance,

And yaf hire unto mariage

A worthi king of hih lignage,

P. ii. 314

A noble kniht eke of his hond,

So was he kid in every lond,

Of Trace he hihte Tereüs;

The clerk Ovide telleth thus. 5570

This Tereüs his wif hom ladde,

A lusti lif with hire he hadde;

Til it befell upon a tyde,

This Progne, as sche lay him besyde,

Bethoughte hir hou it mihte be

That sche hir Soster myhte se,

[Pg 99]

And to hir lord hir will sche seide,

With goodly wordes and him preide

That sche to hire mihte go:

And if it liked him noght so, 5580

That thanne he wolde himselve wende,

Or elles be som other sende,

Which mihte hire diere Soster griete,

And schape hou that thei mihten miete.

Hir lord anon to that he herde

Yaf his acord, and thus ansuerde:

‘I wole,’ he seide, ‘for thi sake

The weie after thi Soster take

Miself, and bringe hire, if I may.’

And sche with that, there as he lay,398 5590

Began him in hire armes clippe,

And kist him with hir softe lippe,399

And seide, ‘Sire, grant mercy.’

And he sone after was redy,

And tok his leve forto go;

In sori time dede he so.

P. ii. 315

This Tereüs goth forth to Schipe400

With him and with his felaschipe;

Be See the rihte cours he nam,

Into the contre til he cam,401 5600

Wher Philomene was duellinge,

And of hir Soster the tidinge

He tolde, and tho thei weren glade,

And mochel joie of him thei made.

The fader and the moder bothe

To leve here douhter weren lothe,

Bot if thei weren in presence;

And natheles at reverence

Of him, that wolde himself travaile,

Thei wolden noght he scholde faile402 5610

Of that he preide, and yive hire leve:403

And sche, that wolde noght beleve,

[Pg 100]

In alle haste made hire yare

Toward hir Soster forto fare,

With Tereüs and forth sche wente.

And he with al his hole entente,

Whan sche was fro hir frendes go,

Assoteth of hire love so,

His yhe myhte he noght withholde,

That he ne moste on hir beholde; 5620

And with the sihte he gan desire,404

And sette his oghne herte on fyre;405

And fyr, whan it to tow aprocheth,

To him anon the strengthe acrocheth,

Til with his hete it be devoured,

The tow ne mai noght be socoured.

P. ii. 316

And so that tirant raviner,406

Whan that sche was in his pouer,

And he therto sawh time and place,

As he that lost hath alle grace, 5630

Foryat he was a wedded man,

And in a rage on hire he ran,

Riht as a wolf which takth his preie.407

And sche began to crie and preie,

‘O fader, o mi moder diere,

Nou help!’ Bot thei ne mihte it hiere,

And sche was of to litel myht

Defense ayein so ruide a knyht

To make, whanne he was so wod

That he no reson understod, 5640

Bot hield hire under in such wise,

That sche ne myhte noght arise,

Bot lay oppressed and desesed,

As if a goshauk hadde sesed

A brid, which dorste noght for fere

Remue: and thus this tirant there408

Beraft hire such thing as men sein

Mai neveremor be yolde ayein,

And that was the virginite:

Of such Ravine it was pite. 5650

Bot whan sche to hirselven com,[Pg 101]

And of hir meschief hiede nom,

And knew hou that sche was no maide,

With wofull herte thus sche saide:

‘O thou of alle men the worste,

Wher was ther evere man that dorste

P. ii. 317

Do such a dede as thou hast do?

That dai schal falle, I hope so,

That I schal telle out al mi fille,

And with mi speche I schal fulfille 5660

The wyde world in brede and lengthe.

That thou hast do to me be strengthe,

If I among the poeple duelle,

Unto the poeple I schal it telle;

And if I be withinne wall

Of Stones closed, thanne I schal

Unto the Stones clepe and crie,409

And tellen hem thi felonie;

And if I to the wodes wende,

Ther schal I tellen tale and ende,410 5670

And crie it to the briddes oute,411

That thei schul hiere it al aboute.

For I so loude it schal reherce,

That my vois schal the hevene perce,

That it schal soune in goddes Ere.

Ha, false man, where is thi fere?

O mor cruel than eny beste,

Hou hast thou holden thi beheste412

Which thou unto my Soster madest?

O thou, which alle love ungladest, 5680

And art ensample of alle untrewe,

Nou wolde god mi Soster knewe,

Of thin untrouthe, hou that it stod!’

And he than as a Lyon wod413

With hise unhappi handes stronge

[Pg 102]

Hire cauhte be the tresses longe,

P. ii. 318

With whiche he bond ther bothe hire armes,

That was a fieble dede of armes,

And to the grounde anon hire caste,

And out he clippeth also faste 5690

Hire tunge with a peire scheres.

So what with blod and what with teres

Out of hire yhe and of hir mouth,

He made hire faire face uncouth:

Sche lay swounende unto the deth,

Ther was unethes eny breth;

Bot yit whan he hire tunge refte,

A litel part therof belefte,

Bot sche with al no word mai soune,

Bot chitre and as a brid jargoune. 5700

And natheles that wode hound

Hir bodi hent up fro the ground,

And sente hir there as be his wille

Sche scholde abyde in prison stille

For everemo: bot nou tak hiede

What after fell of this misdede.

Whanne al this meschief was befalle,

This Tereüs, that foule him falle,

Unto his contre hom he tyh;

And whan he com his paleis nyh, 5710

His wif al redi there him kepte.

Whan he hir sih, anon he wepte,

And that he dede for deceite,

For sche began to axe him streite,

‘Wher is mi Soster?’ And he seide

That sche was ded; and Progne abreide,

P. ii. 319

As sche that was a wofull wif,

And stod betuen hire deth and lif,

Of that sche herde such tidinge:414

Bot for sche sih hire lord wepinge, 5720

She wende noght bot alle trouthe,

And hadde wel the more routhe.

The Perles weren tho forsake

To hire, and blake clothes take;

[Pg 103]

As sche that was gentil and kinde,

In worschipe of hir Sostres mynde

Sche made a riche enterement,

For sche fond non amendement

To syghen or to sobbe more:

So was ther guile under the gore. 5730

Nou leve we this king and queene,

And torne ayein to Philomene,

As I began to tellen erst.

Whan sche cam into prison ferst,

It thoghte a kinges douhter strange

To maken so soudein a change

Fro welthe unto so grete a wo;415

And sche began to thenke tho,

Thogh sche be mouthe nothing preide,

Withinne hir herte thus sche seide:416 5740

‘O thou, almyhty Jupiter,

That hihe sist and lokest fer,

Thou soffrest many a wrong doinge,417

And yit it is noght thi willinge.

To thee ther mai nothing ben hid,

Thou wost hou it is me betid:

P. ii. 320

I wolde I hadde noght be bore,

For thanne I hadde noght forlore418

Mi speche and mi virginite.

Bot, goode lord, al is in thee, 5750

Whan thou therof wolt do vengance

And schape mi deliverance.’

And evere among this ladi wepte,

And thoghte that sche nevere kepte

To ben a worldes womman more,

And that sche wissheth everemore.

Bot ofte unto hir Soster diere

Hire herte spekth in this manere,

And seide, ‘Ha, Soster, if ye knewe

Of myn astat, ye wolde rewe, 5760

I trowe, and my deliverance

[Pg 104]

Ye wolde schape, and do vengance

On him that is so fals a man:

And natheles, so as I can,

I wol you sende som tokninge,419

Wherof ye schul have knowlechinge

Of thing I wot, that schal you lothe,

The which you toucheth and me bothe.’

And tho withinne a whyle als tyt420

Sche waf a cloth of Selk al whyt 5770

With lettres and ymagerie,

In which was al the felonie,

Which Tereüs to hire hath do;421

And lappede it togedre tho422

And sette hir signet therupon

And sende it unto Progne anon.

P. ii. 321

The messager which forth it bar,

What it amonteth is noght war;

And natheles to Progne he goth

And prively takth hire the cloth, 5780

And wente ayein riht as he cam,

The court of him non hiede nam.

Whan Progne of Philomene herde,

Sche wolde knowe hou that it ferde,

And opneth that the man hath broght,

And wot therby what hath be wroght

And what meschief ther is befalle.

In swoune tho sche gan doun falle,

And efte aros and gan to stonde,

And eft sche takth the cloth on honde, 5790

Behield the lettres and thymages;

Bot ate laste, ‘Of suche oultrages,’

Sche seith, ‘wepinge is noght the bote:’

And swerth, if that sche live mote,

It schal be venged otherwise.

And with that sche gan hire avise

Hou ferst sche mihte unto hire winne

Hir Soster, that noman withinne,

Bot only thei that were suore,

[Pg 105]

It scholde knowe, and schop therfore 5800

That Tereüs nothing it wiste;

And yit riht as hirselven liste,423

Hir Soster was delivered sone

Out of prison, and be the mone

To Progne sche was broght be nyhte.

Whan ech of other hadde a sihte,

P. ii. 322

In chambre, ther thei were al one,424

Thei maden many a pitous mone;

Bot Progne most of sorwe made,

Which sihe hir Soster pale and fade425 5810

And specheles and deshonoured,

Of that sche hadde be defloured;

And ek upon hir lord sche thoghte,

Of that he so untreuly wroghte

And hadde his espousaile broke.

Sche makth a vou it schal be wroke,426

And with that word sche kneleth doun

Wepinge in gret devocioun:

Unto Cupide and to Venus

Sche preide, and seide thanne thus: 5820

‘O ye, to whom nothing asterte

Of love mai, for every herte

Ye knowe, as ye that ben above

The god and the goddesse of love;

Ye witen wel that evere yit

With al mi will and al my wit,

Sith ferst ye schopen me to wedde,

That I lay with mi lord abedde,

I have be trewe in mi degre,

And evere thoghte forto be, 5830

And nevere love in other place,

Bot al only the king of Trace,

Which is mi lord and I his wif.

Bot nou allas this wofull strif!

That I him thus ayeinward finde

The most untrewe and most unkinde

[Pg 106]

P. ii. 323

That evere in ladi armes lay.427

And wel I wot that he ne may

Amende his wrong, it is so gret;

For he to lytel of me let, 5840

Whan he myn oughne Soster tok,

And me that am his wif forsok.’

Lo, thus to Venus and Cupide

Sche preide, and furthermor sche cride

Unto Appollo the hiheste,

And seide, ‘O myghti god of reste,

Thou do vengance of this debat.

Mi Soster and al hire astat

Thou wost, and hou sche hath forlore

Hir maidenhod, and I therfore 5850

In al the world schal bere a blame

Of that mi Soster hath a schame,

That Tereüs to hire I sente:

And wel thou wost that myn entente

Was al for worschipe and for goode.

O lord, that yifst the lives fode

To every wyht, I prei thee hiere

Thes wofull Sostres that ben hiere,

And let ous noght to the ben lothe;428

We ben thin oghne wommen bothe.’ 5860

Thus pleigneth Progne and axeth wreche,

And thogh hire Soster lacke speche,

To him that alle thinges wot

Hire sorwe is noght the lasse hot:

Bot he that thanne had herd hem tuo,

Him oughte have sorwed everemo

P. ii. 324

For sorwe which was hem betuene.

With signes pleigneth Philomene,

And Progne seith, ‘It schal be wreke,

That al the world therof schal speke.’ 5870

And Progne tho seknesse feigneth,

Wherof unto hir lord sche pleigneth,

And preith sche moste hire chambres kepe,429

And as hir liketh wake and slepe.

[Pg 107]

And he hire granteth to be so;

And thus togedre ben thei tuo,

That wolde him bot a litel good.

Nou herk hierafter hou it stod430

Of wofull auntres that befelle:

Thes Sostres, that ben bothe felle,—431 5880

And that was noght on hem along,

Bot onliche on the grete wrong

Which Tereüs hem hadde do,—

Thei schopen forto venge hem tho.

This Tereüs be Progne his wif

A Sone hath, which as his lif

He loveth, and Ithis he hihte:

His moder wiste wel sche mihte

Do Tereüs no more grief432

Than sle this child, which was so lief.433 5890

Thus sche, that was, as who seith, mad

Of wo, which hath hir overlad,

Withoute insihte of moderhede

Foryat pite and loste drede,

And in hir chambre prively

This child withouten noise or cry

P. ii. 325

Sche slou, and hieu him al to pieces:

And after with diverse spieces

The fleissh, whan it was so toheewe,

Sche takth, and makth therof a sewe, 5900

With which the fader at his mete

Was served, til he hadde him ete;

That he ne wiste hou that it stod,

Bot thus his oughne fleissh and blod

Himself devoureth ayein kinde,

As he that was tofore unkinde.

And thanne, er that he were arise,

For that he scholde ben agrise,

To schewen him the child was ded,

This Philomene tok the hed 5910

Betwen tuo disshes, and al wrothe

[Pg 108]

Tho comen forth the Sostres bothe,

And setten it upon the bord.

And Progne tho began the word,

And seide, ‘O werste of alle wicke,

Of conscience whom no pricke

Mai stere, lo, what thou hast do!

Lo, hier ben nou we Sostres tuo;434

O Raviner, lo hier thi preie,

With whom so falsliche on the weie 5920

Thou hast thi tirannye wroght.

Lo, nou it is somdel aboght,

And bet it schal, for of thi dede

The world schal evere singe and rede

In remembrance of thi defame:435

For thou to love hast do such schame,

P. ii. 326

That it schal nevere be foryete.’

With that he sterte up fro the mete,

And schof the bord unto the flor,436

And cauhte a swerd anon and suor 5930

That thei scholde of his handes dye.

And thei unto the goddes crie

Begunne with so loude a stevene,

That thei were herd unto the hevene;

And in a twinclinge of an yhe

The goddes, that the meschief syhe,437

Here formes changen alle thre.

Echon of hem in his degre

Was torned into briddes kinde;

Diverseliche, as men mai finde, 5940

After thastat that thei were inne,

Here formes were set atwinne.

And as it telleth in the tale,

The ferst into a nyhtingale438

Was schape, and that was Philomene,

Which in the wynter is noght sene,

For thanne ben the leves falle

[Pg 109]

And naked ben the buisshes alle.

For after that sche was a brid,

Hir will was evere to ben hid, 5950

And forto duelle in prive place,

That noman scholde sen hir face

For schame, which mai noght be lassed,

Of thing that was tofore passed,

Whan that sche loste hir maidenhiede:

For evere upon hir wommanhiede,

P. ii. 327

Thogh that the goddes wolde hire change,

Sche thenkth, and is the more strange,439

And halt hir clos the wyntres day.

Bot whan the wynter goth away, 5960

And that Nature the goddesse

Wole of hir oughne fre largesse440

With herbes and with floures bothe

The feldes and the medwes clothe,

And ek the wodes and the greves

Ben heled al with grene leves,441

So that a brid hire hyde mai,

Betwen Averil and March and Maii,

Sche that the wynter hield hir clos,

For pure schame and noght aros, 5970

Whan that sche seth the bowes thikke,442

And that ther is no bare sticke,

Bot al is hid with leves grene,

To wode comth this Philomene443

And makth hir ferste yeres flyht;

Wher as sche singeth day and nyht,

And in hir song al openly444

Sche makth hir pleignte and seith, ‘O why,

O why ne were I yit a maide?’445

For so these olde wise saide, 5980

Which understoden what sche mente,446

Hire notes ben of such entente.

[Pg 110]

And ek thei seide hou in hir song

Sche makth gret joie and merthe among,

And seith, ‘Ha, nou I am a brid,

Ha, nou mi face mai ben hid:

P. ii. 328

Thogh I have lost mi Maidenhede,

Schal noman se my chekes rede.’

Thus medleth sche with joie wo

And with hir sorwe merthe also, 5990

So that of loves maladie

Sche makth diverse melodie,

And seith love is a wofull blisse,

A wisdom which can noman wisse,

A lusti fievere, a wounde softe:

This note sche reherceth ofte

To hem whiche understonde hir tale.

Nou have I of this nyhtingale,

Which erst was cleped Philomene,

Told al that evere I wolde mene, 6000

Bothe of hir forme and of hir note,

Wherof men mai the storie note.

And of hir Soster Progne I finde,

Hou sche was torned out of kinde

Into a Swalwe swift of winge,

Which ek in wynter lith swounynge,

Ther as sche mai nothing be sene:

Bot whan the world is woxe grene447

And comen is the Somertide,

Than fleth sche forth and ginth to chide, 6010

And chitreth out in hir langage448

What falshod is in mariage,449

And telleth in a maner speche

Of Tereüs the Spousebreche.

Sche wol noght in the wodes duelle,

For sche wolde openliche telle;450

P. ii. 329

And ek for that sche was a spouse,

Among the folk sche comth to house,

To do thes wyves understonde451

[Pg 111]

The falshod of hire housebonde,452 6020

That thei of hem be war also,

For ther ben manye untrewe of tho.

Thus ben the Sostres briddes bothe,

And ben toward the men so lothe,

That thei ne wole of pure schame

Unto no mannes hand be tame;453

For evere it duelleth in here mynde

Of that thei founde a man unkinde,

And that was false Tereüs.

If such on be amonges ous 6030

I not, bot his condicion

Men sein in every region

Withinne toune and ek withoute

Nou regneth comunliche aboute.

And natheles in remembrance

I wol declare what vengance

The goddes hadden him ordeined,

Of that the Sostres hadden pleigned:

For anon after he was changed

And from his oghne kinde stranged, 6040

A lappewincke mad he was,

And thus he hoppeth on the gras,454

And on his hed ther stant upriht

A creste in tokne he was a kniht;455

And yit unto this dai men seith,

A lappewincke hath lore his feith456

P. ii. 330

And is the brid falseste of alle.

Confessor.

Bewar, mi Sone, er thee so falle;457

For if thou be of such covine,

To gete of love be Ravine 6050

Thi lust, it mai thee falle thus,

As it befell of Tereüs.458

Amans.

Mi fader, goddes forebode!459

[Pg 112]

Me were levere be fortrode460

With wilde hors and be todrawe,

Er I ayein love and his lawe

Dede eny thing or loude or stille,

Which were noght mi ladi wille.

Men sein that every love hath drede;461

So folweth it that I hire drede, 6060

For I hire love, and who so dredeth,

To plese his love and serve him nedeth.

Thus mai ye knowen be this skile

That no Ravine don I wile

Ayein hir will be such a weie;

Bot while I live, I wol obeie

Abidinge on hire courtesie,

If eny merci wolde hir plie.

Forthi, mi fader, as of this

I wot noght I have don amis: 6070

Bot furthermore I you beseche,

Som other point that ye me teche,

And axeth forth, if ther be auht,

That I mai be the betre tauht.

[Robbery.]

ix. Viuat vt ex spoliis grandi quamsepe tumultu,

Quo graditur populus, latro perurget iter.

P. ii. 331

Sic amor, ex casu poterit quo carpere predam,

Si locus est aptus, cetera nulla timet.

Whan Covoitise in povere astat

Stant with himself upon debat462

Thurgh lacke of his misgovernance,

That he unto his sustienance

Hic loquitur super illa Cupiditatis specie quam furtum vocant, cuius Ministri alicuius legis offensam non metuentes, tam in amoris causa quam aliter, suam quamsepe conscienciam offendunt.

Ne can non other weie finde

To gete him good, thanne as the blinde, 6080

Which seth noght what schal after falle,

That ilke vice which men calle

Of Robberie, he takth on honde;

Wherof be water and be londe463

Of thing which othre men beswinke

[Pg 113]

He get him cloth and mete and drinke.

Him reccheth noght what he beginne,

Thurgh thefte so that he mai winne:

Forthi to maken his pourchas

He lith awaitende on the pas, 6090

And what thing that he seth ther passe,

He takth his part, or more or lasse,

If it be worthi to be take.

He can the packes wel ransake,

So prively berth non aboute

His gold, that he ne fint it oute,

Or other juel, what it be;

He takth it as his proprete.

In wodes and in feldes eke

Thus Robberie goth to seke, 6100

Wher as he mai his pourpos finde.464

And riht so in the same kinde,

P. ii. 332

My goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,465

To speke of love in the matiere

And make a verrai resemblance,

Riht as a thief makth his chevance

And robbeth mennes good aboute

In wode and field, wher he goth oute,

So be ther of these lovers some,

In wylde stedes wher thei come466 6110

And finden there a womman able,

And therto place covenable,

Withoute leve, er that thei fare,

Thei take a part of that chaffare:467

Yee, though sche were a Scheperdesse,

Yit wol the lord of wantounesse

Assaie, althogh sche be unmete,

For other mennes good is swete.

Bot therof wot nothing the wif

At hom, which loveth as hir lif 6120

Hir lord, and sitt alday wisshinge

After hir lordes hom comynge:

Bet whan that he comth hom at eve,

[Pg 114]

Anon he makth his wif beleve,

For sche noght elles scholde knowe:

He telth hire hou his hunte hath blowe,

And hou his houndes have wel runne,

And hou ther schon a merye Sunne,

And hou his haukes flowen wel;

Bot he wol telle her nevere a diel 6130

Hou he to love untrewe was,

Of that he robbede in the pas,

P. ii. 333

And tok his lust under the schawe

Ayein love and ayein his lawe.

Confessor.

Which thing, mi Sone, I thee forbede,

For it is an ungoodly dede.

For who that takth be Robberie

His love, he mai noght justefie

His cause, and so fulofte sithe

For ones that he hath be blithe 6140

He schal ben after sory thries.

Ensample of suche Robberies

I finde write, as thou schalt hiere,

Acordende unto this matiere.

[Neptune and Cornix.]

I rede hou whilom was a Maide,

The faireste, as Ovide saide,

Hic loquitur contra istos in amoris causa predones, qui cum in suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant, fortuna in contrarium operatur. Et narrat quod cum468 Neptunus quamdam virginem nomine Cornicem solam iuxta mare deambulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset, superueniens Pallas ipsam e manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius liberauit.

Which was in hire time tho;

And sche was of the chambre also

Of Pallas, which is the goddesse

And wif to Marte, of whom prouesse 6150

Is yove to these worthi knihtes.469

For he is of so grete mihtes,

That he governeth the bataille;

Withouten him may noght availe

The stronge hond, bot he it helpe;

Ther mai no knyht of armes yelpe,

Bot he feihte under his banere.

Bot nou to speke of mi matiere,

This faire, freisshe, lusti mai,

Al one as sche wente on a dai 6160

Upon the stronde forto pleie,

[Pg 115]

Ther cam Neptunus in the weie,470

P. ii. 334

Which hath the See in governance;

And in his herte such plesance

He tok, whan he this Maide sih,

That al his herte aros on hih,

For he so sodeinliche unwar471

Behield the beaute that sche bar.

And caste anon withinne his herte

That sche him schal no weie asterte, 6170

Bot if he take in avantage

Fro thilke maide som pilage,

Noght of the broches ne the Ringes,

Bot of some othre smale thinges

He thoghte parte, er that sche wente;

And hire in bothe hise armes hente,

And putte his hond toward the cofre,

Wher forto robbe he made a profre,472

That lusti tresor forto stele,

Which passeth othre goodes fele 6180

And cleped is the maidenhede,

Which is the flour of wommanhede.

This Maiden, which Cornix be name

Was hote, dredende alle schame,

Sih that sche mihte noght debate,

And wel sche wiste he wolde algate

Fulfille his lust of Robberie,

Anon began to wepe and crie,

And seide, ‘O Pallas, noble queene,

Scheu nou thi myht and let be sene,473 6190

To kepe and save myn honour:

Help, that I lese noght mi flour,

P. ii. 335

Which nou under thi keie is loke.’

That word was noght so sone spoke,

Whan Pallas schop recoverir

After the will and the desir

Of hire, which a Maiden was,

And sodeinliche upon this cas

[Pg 116]

Out of hire wommanisshe kinde

Into a briddes like I finde 6200

Sche was transformed forth withal,

So that Neptunus nothing stal

Of such thing as he wolde have stole.

With fetheres blake as eny cole

Out of hise armes in a throwe

Sche flih before his yhe a Crowe;

Which was to hire a more delit,

To kepe hire maidenhede whit

Under the wede of fethers blake,

In Perles whyte than forsake 6210

That no lif mai restore ayein.

Bot thus Neptune his herte in vein

Hath upon Robberie sett;

The bridd is flowe and he was let,

The faire Maide him hath ascaped,474

Wherof for evere he was bejaped

And scorned of that he hath lore.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, be thou war therfore

That thou no maidenhode stele,

Wherof men sen deseses fele 6220

Aldai befalle in sondri wise;

So as I schal thee yit devise

An other tale therupon,

Which fell be olde daies gon.

P. ii. 336

[Tale of Calistona.]

King Lichaon upon his wif

A dowhter hadde, a goodly lif,

Hic ponit exemplum contra istos in causa virginitatis lese predones. Et narrat quod cum Calistona Lichaontis mire pulcritudinis filia suam virginitatem Diane conseruandam castissima vouisset, et in Siluam que Tegea dicitur inter alias ibidem Nimphas moraturam se transtulisset, Iupiter virginis castitatem subtili furto surripiens, quendam476 filium, qui postea Archas nominatus est, ex ea genuit: vnde Iuno in Calistonam seuiens eius pulcritudinem in vrse turpissime deformitatem subito transfigurauit.

A clene Maide of worthi fame,

Calistona whos rihte name

Was cleped, and of many a lord

Sche was besoght, bot hire acord 6230

To love myhte noman winne,

As sche which hath no lust therinne;

Bot swor withinne hir herte and saide

That sche wolde evere ben a Maide.475

Wherof to kepe hireself in pes,

[Pg 117]

With suche as Amadriades

Were cleped, wodemaydes, tho,

And with the Nimphes ek also

Upon the spring of freisshe welles

Sche schop to duelle and nagher elles. 6240

And thus cam this Calistona

Into the wode of Tegea,

Wher sche virginite behihte

Unto Diane, and therto plihte

Her trouthe upon the bowes grene,

To kepe hir maidenhode clene.

Which afterward upon a day

Was priveliche stole away;

For Jupiter thurgh his queintise

From hire it tok in such a wise, 6250

That sodeinliche forth withal

Hire wombe aros and sche toswal,

So that it mihte noght ben hidd.

And therupon it is betidd,

P. ii. 337

Diane, which it herde telle,

In prive place unto a welle477

With Nimphes al a compainie478

Was come, and in a ragerie

Sche seide that sche bathe wolde,

And bad that every maide scholde 6260

With hire al naked bathe also.

And tho began the prive wo,

Calistona wax red for schame;

Bot thei that knewe noght the game,

To whom no such thing was befalle,

Anon thei made hem naked alle,

As thei that nothing wolden hyde:479

Bot sche withdrouh hire evere asyde,

And natheles into the flod,

Wher that Diane hirselve stod, 6270

Sche thoghte come unaperceived.

Bot therof sche was al deceived;

For whan sche cam a litel nyh,

[Pg 118]

And that Diane hire wombe syh,

Sche seide, ‘Awey, thou foule beste,

For thin astat is noght honeste

This chaste water forto touche;

For thou hast take such a touche,

Which nevere mai ben hol ayein.’

And thus goth sche which was forlein 6280

With schame, and fro the Nimphes fledde,

Til whanne that nature hire spedde,

That of a Sone, which Archas

Was named, sche delivered was.

P. ii. 338

And tho Juno, which was the wif

Of Jupiter, wroth and hastif,

In pourpos forto do vengance

Cam forth upon this ilke chance,

And to Calistona sche spak,480

And sette upon hir many a lak, 6290

And seide, ‘Ha, nou thou art atake,

That thou thi werk myht noght forsake.

Ha, thou ungoodlich ypocrite,481

Hou thou art gretly forto wyte!

Bot nou thou schalt ful sore abie

That ilke stelthe and micherie,482

Which thou hast bothe take and do;

Wherof thi fader Lichao

Schal noght be glad, whan he it wot,

Of that his dowhter was so hot, 6300

That sche hath broke hire chaste avou.

Bot I thee schal chastise nou;483

Thi grete beaute schal be torned,

Thurgh which that thou hast be mistorned,484

Thi large frount, thin yhen greie,

I schal hem change in other weie,

And al the feture of thi face

In such a wise I schal deface,

That every man thee schal forbere.’

With that the liknesse of a bere 6310

Sche tok and was forschape anon.

[Pg 119]

Withinne a time and therupon

Befell that with a bowe on honde,485

To hunte and gamen forto fonde,

P. ii. 339

Into that wode goth to pleie

Hir Sone Archas, and in his weie

It hapneth that this bere cam.486

And whan that sche good hiede nam,487

Wher that he stod under the bowh,488

Sche kneu him wel and to him drouh; 6320

For thogh sche hadde hire forme lore,

The love was noght lost therfore

Which kinde hath set under his lawe.

Whan sche under the wodesschawe489

Hire child behield, sche was so glad,

That sche with bothe hire armes sprad,

As thogh sche were in wommanhiede,

Toward him cam, and tok non hiede

Of that he bar a bowe bent.

And he with that an Arwe hath hent 6330

And gan to teise it in his bowe,

As he that can non other knowe,

Bot that it was a beste wylde.

Bot Jupiter, which wolde schylde

The Moder and the Sone also,

Ordeineth for hem bothe so,490

That thei for evere were save.

Confessor.

Bot thus, mi Sone, thou myht have

Ensample, hou that it is to fle

To robbe the virginite 6340

Of a yong innocent aweie:491

And overthis be other weie,

In olde bokes as I rede,

Such Robberie is forto drede,

P. ii. 340

And nameliche of thilke good

Which every womman that is good

Desireth forto kepe and holde,

[Pg 120]

As whilom was be daies olde.

For if thou se mi tale wel

Of that was tho, thou miht somdiel 6350

Of old ensample taken hiede,492

Hou that the flour of maidenhiede

Was thilke time holde in pris.

And so it was, and so it is,

And so it schal for evere stonde:

And for thou schalt it understonde,

Nou herkne a tale next suiende,

Hou maidenhod is to commende.

[Virginity.]

x. Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,493

Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,

Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,

Eternos fetus que sine labe parit.

Of Rome among the gestes olde

I finde hou that Valerie tolde 6360

Hic loquitur de virginitatis commendacione, vbi dicit quod nuper Imperatores ob tanti status dignitatem virginibus cedebant496 in via.

That what man tho was Emperour494

Of Rome, he scholde don honour

To the virgine, and in the weie,495

Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeie

In worschipe of virginite,

Which tho was of gret dignite.497

Noght onliche of the wommen tho,498

Bot of the chaste men also

It was commended overal:

And forto speke in special 6370

P. ii. 341

Touchende of men, ensample I finde,

Hic loquitur, qualiter Phyrinus, iuuenum Rome pulcherrimus, ut illesam suam conseruaret virginitatem, ambos oculos eruens vultus sui decorem abhominabilem constituit.

Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde499

Above alle othre the faireste

Of Rome and ek the comelieste,

That wel was hire which him mihte

Beholde and have of him a sihte.

Thus was he tempted ofte sore;

[Pg 121]

Bot for he wolde be nomore500

Among the wommen so coveited,

The beaute of his face streited 6380

He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen,501

That alle wommen whiche him syhen502

Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte:

And thus his maidehiede he boghte.

So mai I prove wel forthi,

Above alle othre under the Sky,

Who that the vertus wolde peise,503

Virginite is forto preise,

Which, as thapocalips recordeth,

To Crist in hevene best acordeth.504 6390

So mai it schewe wel therfore,

As I have told it hier tofore,

In hevene and ek in Erthe also

It is accept to bothe tuo*.

And if I schal more over this

Declare what this vertu is,

I finde write upon this thing

[Chastity of Valentinian.]

Of Valentinian the king

And Emperour be thilke daies,

Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo, quod contra sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriam optinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus permansit.

A worthi knyht at alle assaies, 6400

Hou he withoute Mariage

Was of an hundred wynter Age,

And hadde ben a worthi kniht

Bothe of his lawe and of his myht.

*Out of his flessh a man to live505

In carne preter carnem viuere pocius vita angelica quam humana est.506

Gregoire hath this ensample yive,

And seith it schal rather be told

Lich to an Angel manyfold,507

P. ii. 342

Than to the lif of mannes kinde.

Ther is no reson forto finde,6400*

Bot only thurgh the grace above,

In flessh withoute flesshly love

A man to live chaste hiere:

And natheles a man mai hiere

Of suche that have ben er this,

And yit ther ben; bot for it is

A vertu which is sielde wonne,

Now I this matiere have begonne,

[Pg 122]

I thenke tellen overmore,

Which is, mi Sone, for thi lore,6410*

If that the list to taken hiede.

x.508Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,

Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,

Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,

Eternos fetus que sine labe parit.

To trete upon the maidenhiede,

Milicia est vita hominis super terram.509

The bok seith that a mannes lif

Upon knyhthode in werre and strif510

Is sett among hise enemys:

The frele fleissh, whos nature is

Ai redy forto sporne and falle,

The ferste foman is of alle;

For thilke werre is redi ai,

It werreth nyht, it werreth dai,6420*

So that a man hath nevere reste.

Forthi is thilke knyht the beste,

Thurgh myht and grace of goddes sonde

Which that bataille mai withstonde:

Wherof yit duelleth the memoire

Of hem that whilom the victoire

Of thilke dedly werre hadden;511

The hih prouesse which thei ladden,

P. ii. 343

Wherof the Soule stod amended,512

Upon this erthe is yit commended.5136430*

Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo quod contra514 sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriam optinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus515 permansit.

An Emperour be olde daies

Ther was, and he at alle assaies

A worthi knyht was of his hond,

Ther was non such in al the lond;

Bot yit for al his vasselage

He stod unwedded al his age,516

And in Cronique as it is told,

He was an hundred wynter old.

Bot whan men wolde etc. (as 6405 ff.)

[Pg 123]

Bot whan men wolde his dedes peise

And his knyhthode of Armes preise,

Of that he dede with his hondes,

Whan he the kinges and the londes517

To his subjeccion put under,518

Of al that pris hath he no wonder, 6410

For he it sette of non acompte,

And seide al that may noght amonte

Ayeins o point which he hath nome,

That he his fleissh hath overcome:

P. ii. 344

He was a virgine, as he seide;

On that bataille his pris he leide. (6450*)

[Virginity.]

Lo nou, my Sone, avise thee.

Amans.

Yee, fader, al this wel mai be,519

Bot if alle othre dede so,

The world of men were sone go: 6420

And in the lawe a man mai finde,

Hou god to man be weie of kinde

Hath set the world to multeplie;

And who that wol him justefie,

It is ynouh to do the lawe.

And natheles youre goode sawe

Is good to kepe, who so may,

I wol noght therayein seie nay.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, take it as I seie;520

If maidenhod be take aweie 6430

Withoute lawes ordinance,

[Pg 124]

It mai noght failen of vengance.

And if thou wolt the sothe wite,

Behold a tale which is write,

Hou that the King Agamenon,

Whan he the Cite of Lesbon

Hath wonne, a Maiden ther he fond,

Which was the faireste of the Lond

In thilke time that men wiste.

He tok of hire what him liste 6440

Of thing which was most precious,

Wherof that sche was dangerous.

This faire Maiden cleped is

Criseide, douhter of Crisis,521

P. ii. 345

Which was that time in special

Of thilke temple principal,

Wher Phebus hadde his sacrifice,

So was it wel the more vice.

Agamenon was thanne in weie

To Troieward, and tok aweie 6450

This Maiden, which he with him ladde,

So grete a lust in hire he hadde.522

Bot Phebus, which hath gret desdeign

Of that his Maiden was forlein,

Anon as he to Troie cam,

Vengance upon this dede he nam

And sende a comun pestilence.

Thei soghten thanne here evidence

And maden calculation,

To knowe in what condicion 6460

This deth cam in so sodeinly;523

And ate laste redyly

The cause and ek the man thei founde:524

And forth withal the same stounde

Agamenon opposed was,525

Which hath beknowen al the cas(6500*)

Of the folie which he wroghte.

[Pg 125]

And therupon mercy thei soghte

Toward the god in sondri wise

With preiere and with sacrifise, 6470

The Maide and hom ayein thei sende,526

And yive hire good ynouh to spende527

For evere whil sche scholde live:

And thus the Senne was foryive

P. ii. 346

And al the pestilence cessed.

Confessor.

Lo, what it is to ben encressed

Of love which is evele wonne.

It were betre noght begonne

Than take a thing withoute leve,

Which thou most after nedes leve, 6480

And yit have malgre forth withal.

Forthi to robben overal

In loves cause if thou beginne,

I not what ese thou schalt winne.

Mi Sone, be wel war of this,

For thus of Robberie it is.528

Amans.

Mi fader, youre ensamplerie

In loves cause of Robberie

I have it riht wel understonde.

Bot overthis, hou so it stonde, 6490

Yit wolde I wite of youre aprise

What thing is more of Covoitise.

[Stealth and Michery.]

xi. Insidiando latens tempus rimatur et horam529

Fur, quibus occulto tempore furta parat.530

Sic amor insidiis vacat, vt sub tegmine ludos531

Prendere furtiuos nocte fauente queat.

With Covoitise yit I finde

A Servant of the same kinde,

Hic tractat super illa Cupiditatis specie, que secretum latrocinium dicitur, cuius natura custode532 rerum nesciente ea que cupit tam per diem quam per noctem absque strepitu clanculo furatur.

Which Stelthe is hote, and Mecherie

With him is evere in compainie.

[Pg 126]

Of whom if I schal telle soth,

He stalketh as a Pocok doth,

And takth his preie so covert,

That noman wot it in apert. 6500

P. ii. 347

For whan he wot the lord from home,533

Than wol he stalke aboute and rome;

And what thing he fint in his weie,

Whan that he seth the men aweie,

He stelth it and goth forth withal,

That therof noman knowe schal.

And ek fulofte he goth a nyht

Withoute Mone or sterreliht,

And with his craft the dore unpiketh,

And takth therinne what him liketh: 6510

And if the dore be so schet,

That he be of his entre let,

He wole in ate wyndou crepe,

And whil the lord is faste aslepe,

He stelth what thing as him best list,

And goth his weie er it be wist.(6550*)

Fulofte also be lyhte of day

Yit wole he stele and make assay;534

Under the cote his hond he put,

Til he the mannes Purs have cut, 6520

And rifleth that he fint therinne.

And thus he auntreth him to winne,

And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth,

For noman of his conseil knoweth;

What he mai gete of his Michinge,

It is al bile under the winge.

And as an hound that goth to folde

And hath ther taken what he wolde,

His mouth upon the gras he wypeth,

And so with feigned chiere him slypeth, 6530

P. ii. 348

That what as evere of schep he strangle,

Ther is noman therof schal jangle,

As forto knowen who it dede;535

Riht so doth Stelthe in every stede,

[Pg 127]

Where as him list his preie take.

He can so wel his cause make

And so wel feigne and so wel glose,

That ther ne schal noman suppose,

Bot that he were an innocent,

And thus a mannes yhe he blent: 6540

So that this craft I mai remene

Withouten help of eny mene.

[Stealth of Lovers.]

Ther be lovers of that degre,

Which al here lust in privete,

As who seith, geten al be Stelthe,

And ofte atteignen to gret welthe

As for the time that it lasteth.536

For love awaiteth evere and casteth

Hou he mai stele and cacche his preie,

Whan he therto mai finde a weie: 6550

For be it nyht or be it day,

He takth his part, whan that he may,

And if he mai nomore do,

Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, what seist thou therto?

Tell if thou dedest evere so.

Mi fader, hou?

Mi Sone, thus,—

If thou hast stolen eny cuss

Or other thing which therto longeth,

For noman suche thieves hongeth: 6560

P. ii. 349

Tell on forthi and sei the trouthe.

Confessio Amantis.

Mi fader, nay, and that is routhe,

For be mi will I am a thief;

Bot sche that is to me most lief,

Yit dorste I nevere in privete

Noght ones take hire be the kne,(6600*)

To stele of hire or this or that,

And if I dorste, I wot wel what:

And natheles, bot if I lie,

Be Stelthe ne be Robberie 6570

Of love, which fell in mi thoght,

To hire dede I nevere noght.

[Pg 128]

Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed,

Ther schal no castell ben assailed;

Bot thogh I hadde hertes ten,

And were als strong as alle men,

If I be noght myn oghne man

And dar noght usen that I can,

I mai miselve noght recovere.

Thogh I be nevere man so povere, 6580

I bere an herte and hire it is,

So that me faileth wit in this,

Hou that I scholde of myn acord

The servant lede ayein the lord:

For if mi fot wolde awher go,537

Or that min hand wolde elles do,

Whan that myn herte is therayein,

The remenant is al in vein.

And thus me lacketh alle wele,

And yit ne dar I nothing stele 6590

P. ii. 350

Of thing which longeth unto love:

And ek it is so hyh above,

I mai noght wel therto areche,

Bot if so be at time of speche,

Ful selde if thanne I stele may

A word or tuo and go my way.

Betwen hire hih astat and me538

Comparison ther mai non be,

So that I fiele and wel I wot,

Al is to hevy and to hot 6600

To sette on hond withoute leve:

And thus I mot algate leve

To stele that I mai noght take,

And in this wise I mot forsake

To ben a thief ayein mi wille

Of thing which I mai noght fulfille.

For that Serpent which nevere slepte

The flees of gold so wel ne kepte

In Colchos, as the tale is told,

That mi ladi a thousendfold 6610

Nys betre yemed and bewaked,

[Pg 129]

Wher sche be clothed or be naked.

To kepe hir bodi nyht and day,

Sche hath a wardein redi ay,

Which is so wonderful a wyht,

That him ne mai no mannes myht(6650*)

With swerd ne with no wepne daunte,539

Ne with no sleihte of charme enchaunte,

Wherof he mihte be mad tame,

And Danger is his rihte name; 6620

P. ii. 351

Which under lock and under keie,

That noman mai it stele aweie,

Hath al the Tresor underfonge

That unto love mai belonge.

The leste lokinge of hire yhe

Mai noght be stole, if he it syhe;

And who so gruccheth for so lyte,

He wolde sone sette a wyte

On him that wolde stele more.

And that me grieveth wonder sore, 6630

For this proverbe is evere newe,

That stronge lokes maken trewe

Of hem that wolden stele and pyke:540

For so wel can ther noman slyke541

Be him ne be non other mene,

To whom Danger wol yive or lene

Of that tresor he hath to kepe.

So thogh I wolde stalke and crepe,

And wayte on eve and ek on morwe,

Of Danger schal I nothing borwe, 6640

And stele I wot wel may I noght:542

And thus I am riht wel bethoght,

Whil Danger stant in his office,

Of Stelthe, which ye clepe a vice,

I schal be gultif neveremo.

Therfore I wolde he were ago

So fer that I nevere of him herde,

Hou so that afterward it ferde:

[Pg 130]

For thanne I mihte yit per cas

Of love make som pourchas 6650

P. ii. 352

Be Stelthe or be som other weie,

That nou fro me stant fer aweie.

Bot, fader, as ye tolde above,543

Hou Stelthe goth a nyht for love,

I mai noght wel that point forsake,

That ofte times I ne wake

On nyhtes, whan that othre slepe;

Bot hou, I prei you taketh kepe.

Whan I am loged in such wise544

That I be nyhte mai arise, 6660

At som wyndowe and loken oute

And se the housinge al aboute,

So that I mai the chambre knowe

In which mi ladi, as I trowe,

Lyth in hir bed and slepeth softe,

Thanne is myn herte a thief fulofte:(6700*)

For there I stonde to beholde545

The longe nyhtes that ben colde,

And thenke on hire that lyth there.

And thanne I wisshe that I were 6670

Als wys as was Nectanabus

Or elles as was Protheüs,

That couthen bothe of nigromaunce

In what liknesse, in what semblaunce,

Riht as hem liste, hemself transforme:

For if I were of such a forme,

I seie thanne I wolde fle

Into the chambre forto se546

If eny grace wolde falle,

So that I mihte under the palle 6680

P. ii. 353

Som thing of love pyke and stele.

And thus I thenke thoghtes fele,

And thogh therof nothing be soth,

Yit ese as for a time it doth:

Bot ate laste whanne I finde

That I am falle into my mynde,

[Pg 131]

And se that I have stonde longe

And have no profit underfonge,

Than stalke I to mi bedd withinne.

And this is al that evere I winne 6690

Of love, whanne I walke on nyht:

Mi will is good, bot of mi myht

Me lacketh bothe and of mi grace;

For what so that mi thoght embrace,547

Yit have I noght the betre ferd.

Mi fader, lo, nou have ye herd

What I be Stelthe of love have do,548

And hou mi will hath be therto:

If I be worthi to penance

I put it on your ordinance.549 6700

Confessor.

Mi Sone, of Stelthe I the behiete,

Thogh it be for a time swete,

At ende it doth bot litel good,

As be ensample hou that it stod

Whilom, I mai thee telle nou.

Amans.

I preie you, fader, sei me hou.550

Confessor.

Mi Sone, of him which goth be daie

Be weie of Stelthe to assaie,

In loves cause and takth his preie,

Ovide seide as I schal seie, 6710

P. ii. 354

And in his Methamor he tolde

A tale, which is good to holde.

[Tale of Leucothoe.]

The Poete upon this matiere

Of Stelthe wrot in this manere.

Venus, which hath this lawe in honde551

Hic in amoris causa super isto Latrocinio quod de die552 contigit ponit exemplum. Et narrat quod, cum Leuchotoe Orchami filia in cameris sub arta matris custodia virgo preseruabatur, Phebus eius pulcritudinem concupiscens, in conclave domus clara luce subintrans, virginis pudiciciam matre nescia553 deflorauit: vnde ipsa inpregnata iratus pater filiam suam ad sepeliendum viuam effodit; ex cuius tumulo florem, quem554 Solsequium vocant, dicunt tunc555 consequenter primitus accreuisse.

Of thing which mai noght be withstonde,(6750*)

As sche which the tresor to warde

Of love hath withinne hir warde,

Phebum to love hath so constreigned,556

That he withoute reste is peined 6720

With al his herte to coveite

[Pg 132]

A Maiden, which was warded streyte

Withinne chambre and kept so clos,

That selden was whan sche desclos

Goth with hir moder forto pleie.

Leuchotoe, so as men seie,

This Maiden hihte, and Orchamus

Hir fader was; and befell thus.

This doughter, that was kept so deere,

And hadde be fro yer to yeere 6730

Under hir moder discipline

A clene Maide and a Virgine,

Upon the whos nativite

Of comelihiede and of beaute

Nature hath set al that sche may,

That lich unto the fresshe Maii,

Which othre monthes of the yeer

Surmonteth, so withoute pier

Was of this Maiden the feture.

Wherof Phebus out of mesure 6740

P. ii. 355

Hire loveth, and on every syde

Awaiteth, if so mai betyde,557

That he thurgh eny sleihte myhte

Hire lusti maidenhod unrihte,

The which were al his worldes welthe.

And thus lurkende upon his stelthe558

In his await so longe he lai,

Til it befell upon a dai,

That he thurghout hir chambre wall

Cam in al sodeinliche, and stall 6750

That thing which was to him so lief.559

Bot wo the while, he was a thief!

For Venus, which was enemie

Of thilke loves micherie,

Discovereth al the pleine cas

To Clymene, which thanne was560

[Pg 133]

Toward Phebus his concubine.

And sche to lette the covine

Of thilke love, dedli wroth

To pleigne upon this Maide goth, 6760

And tolde hire fader hou it stod;

Wherof for sorwe welnyh wod

Unto hire moder thus he saide:

‘Lo, what it is to kepe a Maide!

To Phebus dar I nothing speke,

Bot upon hire I schal be wreke,561(6800*)

So that these Maidens after this

Mow take ensample, what it is562

To soffre her maidenhed be stole,563

Wherof that sche the deth schal thole.’ 6770

P. ii. 356

And bad with that do make a pet,564

Wherinne he hath his douhter set,

As he that wol no pite have,

So that sche was al quik begrave

And deide anon in his presence.

Bot Phebus, for the reverence

Of that sche hadde be his love,

Hath wroght thurgh his pouer above,

That sche sprong up out of the molde

Into a flour was named golde, 6780

Which stant governed of the Sonne.

And thus whan love is evele wonne,

Fulofte it comth to repentaile.

Amans.

Mi fader, that is no mervaile,

Whan that the conseil is bewreid.

Bot ofte time love hath pleid

And stole many a prive game,

Which nevere yit cam into blame,

Whan that the thinges weren hidde.

Bot in youre tale, as it betidde, 6790

Venus discoverede al the cas,

And ek also brod dai it was,

Whan Phebus such a Stelthe wroghte,

[Pg 134]

Wherof the Maide in blame he broghte,

That afterward sche was so lore.565

Bot for ye seiden nou tofore

Hou stelthe of love goth be nyhte,

And doth hise thinges out of syhte,

Therof me liste also to hiere

A tale lich to the matiere, 6800

P. ii. 357

Wherof I miyhte ensample take.

Confessor.

Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake,566

So as it fell be daies olde,567

And so as the Poete it tolde,

Upon the nyhtes micherie

Nou herkne a tale of Poesie.

[Tale of Hercules and Faunus.]

The myhtieste of alle men

Whan Hercules with Eolen,

Hic ponit exemplum super eodem quod de nocte contigit. Et narrat qualiter Hercules cum Eole in quadam spelunca nobili, Thophis dicta, sub monte Thymolo, vbi silua Bachi est, hospicio pernoctarunt. Et cum ipsi variis lectis seperatim568 iacentes dormierunt, contigit lectum Herculis vestimentis Eole lectumque Eole pelle leonis, qua Hercules induebatur, operiri. Super quo Faunus a silua descendens speluncam subintrauit, temptans si forte cum Eole sue concupiscencie voluptatem569 nesciente Hercule furari posset. Et cum ad lectum Herculis muliebri palpata veste ex casu peruenisset, putans Eolen fuisse, cubiculum nudo corpore ingreditur; quem senciens Hercules manibus apprehensum ipsum ad terram ita fortiter allisit, ut impotens sui corporis effectus usque mane ibidem requieuit, vbi Saba cum Nimphis siluestribus superueniens ipsum sic illusum deridebat.

Which was the love of his corage,

Togedre upon a Pelrinage 6810

Towardes Rome scholden go,570

It fell hem be the weie so,

That thei upon a dai a Cave

Withinne a roche founden have,

Which was real and glorious

And of Entaile curious,(6850*)

Be name and Thophis it was hote.

The Sonne schon tho wonder hote,

As it was in the Somer tyde;

This Hercules, which be his syde 6820

Hath Eolen his love there,571

Whan thei at thilke cave were,

He seide it thoghte him for the beste

That sche hire for the hete reste

Al thilke day and thilke nyht;

And sche, that was a lusti wyht,

It liketh hire al that he seide:

And thus thei duelle there and pleide

The longe dai. And so befell,

[Pg 135]

This Cave was under the hell 6830

P. ii. 358

Of Tymolus, which was begrowe

With vines, and at thilke throwe

Faunus with Saba the goddesse,

Be whom the large wildernesse

In thilke time stod governed,

Weere in a place, as I am lerned,572

Nyh by, which Bachus wode hihte.

This Faunus tok a gret insihte

Of Eolen, that was so nyh;573

For whan that he hire beaute syh, 6840

Out of his wit he was assoted,

And in his herte it hath so noted,

That he forsok the Nimphes alle,

And seide he wolde, hou so it falle,

Assaie an other forto winne;

So that his hertes thoght withinne574

He sette and caste hou that he myhte

Of love pyke awey be nyhte575

That he be daie in other wise

To stele mihte noght suffise: 6850

And therupon his time he waiteth.

Nou tak good hiede hou love afaiteth

Him which withal is overcome.

Faire Eolen, whan sche was come

With Hercules into the Cave,

Sche seide him that sche wolde have576

Hise clothes of and hires bothe,577

That ech of hem scholde other clothe.578

And al was do riht as sche bad,

He hath hire in hise clothes clad 6860

P. ii. 359

[Pg 136]

And caste on hire his gulion,

Which of the Skyn of a Leoun

Was mad, as he upon the weie

It slouh, and overthis to pleie

Sche tok his grete Mace also

And knet it at hir gerdil tho.(6900*)

So was sche lich the man arraied,579

And Hercules thanne hath assaied

To clothen him in hire array:

And thus thei jape forth the dai, 6870

Til that her Souper redy were.

And whan thei hadden souped there,

Thei schopen hem to gon to reste;

And as it thoghte hem for the beste,

Thei bede, as for that ilke nyht,

Tuo sondri beddes to be dyht,

For thei togedre ligge nolde,

Be cause that thei offre wolde

Upon the morwe here sacrifice.

The servantz deden here office 6880

And sondri beddes made anon,

Wherin that thei to reste gon

Ech be himself in sondri place.580

Faire Eole hath set the Mace

Beside hire beddes hed above,

And with the clothes of hire love

Sche helede al hire bed aboute;

And he, which hadde of nothing doute,

Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke,

Hire kertell and hire mantel eke 6890

P. ii. 360

Abrod upon his bed he spredde.

And thus thei slepen bothe abedde;

And what of travail, what of wyn,

The servantz lich to drunke Swyn

Begunne forto route faste.581

This Faunus, which his Stelthe caste,

Was thanne come to the Cave,

And fond thei weren alle save

[Pg 137]

Withoute noise, and in he wente.

The derke nyht his sihte blente, 6900

And yit it happeth him to go

Where Eolen abedde tho

Was leid al one for to slepe;

Bot for he wolde take kepe

Whos bed it was, he made assai,

And of the Leoun, where it lay,

The Cote he fond, and ek he fieleth

The Mace, and thanne his herte kieleth,

That there dorste he noght abyde,

Bot stalketh upon every side 6910

And soghte aboute with his hond,

That other bedd til that he fond,

Wher lai bewympled a visage.

Tho was he glad in his corage,

For he hir kertell fond also

And ek hir mantell bothe tuo(6950*)

Bespred upon the bed alofte.

He made him naked thanne, and softe

Into the bedd unwar he crepte,

Wher Hercules that time slepte, 6920

P. ii. 361

And wende wel it were sche;

And thus in stede of Eole

Anon he profreth him to love.

But he, which felte a man above,

This Hercules, him threw to grounde582

So sore, that thei have him founde

Liggende there upon the morwe;

And tho was noght a litel sorwe,

That Faunus of himselve made,

Bot elles thei were alle glade 6930

And lowhen him to scorne aboute:

Saba with Nimphis al a route583

Cam doun to loke hou that he ferde,584

And whan that thei the sothe herde,

He was bejaped overal.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, be thou war withal

[Pg 138]

To seche suche mecheries,

Bot if thou have the betre aspies,

In aunter if the so betyde

As Faunus dede thilke tyde, 6940

Wherof thou miht be schamed so.

Amans.

Min holi fader, certes no.

Bot if I hadde riht good leve,

Such mecherie I thenke leve:

Mi feinte herte wol noght serve;

For malgre wolde I noght deserve

In thilke place wher I love.

Bot for ye tolden hier above

Of Covoitise and his pilage,

If ther be more of that lignage, 6950

P. ii. 362

Which toucheth to mi schrifte, I preie

That ye therof me wolde seie,

So that I mai the vice eschuie.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, if I be order suie585

The vices, as thei stonde arowe,586

Of Covoitise thou schalt knowe

Ther is yit on, which is the laste;

In whom ther mai no vertu laste,

For he with god himself debateth,

Wherof that al the hevene him hateth. 6960

[Sacrilege.]

xii. Sacrilegus tantum furto loca sacra prophanat;

Vt sibi sunt agri, sic domus alma dei.

Nec locus est, in quo non temptat amans quod amatur,

Et que posse nequit carpere, velle capit.

Hic tractat super vltima Cupiditatis specie, que Sacrilegium dicta est, cuius furtum ea que altissimo sanctificantur bona depredans ecclesie tantum spoliis insidiatur.

The hihe god, which alle goode

Pourveied hath for mannes fode

Of clothes and of mete and drinke,

Bad Adam that he scholde swinke

To geten him his sustienance;

And ek he sette an ordinance(7000*)

Upon the lawe of Moïses,587

That though a man be haveles,

Yit schal he noght be thefte stele.

Bot nou adaies ther ben fele, 6970

That wol no labour undertake,[Pg 139]

Bot what thei mai be Stelthe take

Thei holde it sikerliche wonne.

And thus the lawe is overronne,

Which god hath set, and namely

With hem that so untrewely

The goodes robbe of holi cherche.

P. ii. 363

The thefte which thei thanne werche

Be name is cleped Sacrilegge,

Ayein the whom I thenke alegge.* 6980

Of his condicion to telle,

Which rifleth bothe bok and belle,

588*Upon the pointz as we ben taught589

Stant sacrilege, and elles nought.

The firste point is for to seye,

Whan that a thief schal stele aweye

The holy thing from holy place.

The secounde is, if he pourchace7020*

By wey of thefte unholy thing,

Which he upon his knowleching

Fro holy place aweie took.

The thridde point, as seith the book,

Is such as, wher as evere it be,590

In woode, in feld or in Cite,

Schal no man stele by no wise

That halwed is to the servise

Of god which alle thinges wot.

But ther is nouther cold ne hot,7030*

Which he for god or man wol spare,

So that the body may wel fare;

And that he may the world aschape,

The hevene him thenkth is but a jape:591

And thus, the sothe for to telle,

He rifleth bothe book and belle,592

So forth with al, etc. (as 6983 ff.)

[Pg 140]

So forth with al the remenant

To goddes hous appourtenant,

Wher that he scholde bidde his bede,

He doth his thefte in holi stede,

P. ii. 364

And takth what thing he fint therinne:

For whan he seth that he mai winne,

He wondeth for no cursednesse,

That he ne brekth the holinesse 6990

And doth to god no reverence;

For he hath lost his conscience,

That though the Prest therfore curse,

He seith he fareth noght the wurse.593

And forto speke it otherwise,

What man that lasseth the franchise(7050*)

And takth of holi cherche his preie,

I not what bedes he schal preie.

Whan he fro god, which hath yive al,

The Pourpartie in special, 7000

Which unto Crist himself is due,594

Benymth, he mai noght wel eschue

The peine comende afterward;

For he hath mad his foreward

With Sacrilegge forto duelle,

Which hath his heritage in helle.

And if we rede of tholde lawe,595

I finde write, in thilke dawe596

Of Princes hou ther weren thre597

Coupable sore in this degre.598 7010

That on of hem was cleped thus,

The proude king Antiochus;

That other Nabuzardan hihte,

Which of his crualte behyhte

The temple to destruie and waste,

And so he dede in alle haste;

P. ii. 365

The thridde, which was after schamed,

Was Nabugodonosor named,

[Pg 141]

And he Jerusalem putte under,

Of Sacrilegge and many a wonder 7020

There in the holi temple he wroghte,

Which Baltazar his heir aboghte,599

Whan Mane, Techel, Phares write

Was on the wal, as thou miht wite,

So as the bible it hath declared.600

Bot for al that it is noght spared

Yit nou aday, that men ne pile,

And maken argument and skile

To Sacrilegge as it belongeth,

For what man that ther after longeth, 7030

He takth non hiede what he doth.*

And riht so, forto telle soth,

601*And if a man schal telle soth,

Of guile and of soubtilite

Is non so slyh in his degre

To feigne a thing for his beyete,

As is this vice of which I trete.7090*

He can so priveliche pyke,

He can so wel hise wordes slyke

To putte awey suspecioun,

That in his excusacioun,

Ther schal noman defalte finde.

And thus fulofte men be blinde,

That stonden of his word deceived,

Er his queintise be perceived.

P. ii. 366

Bot natheles yit otherwhile,

For al his sleyhte and al his guile,6027100*

Of that he wolde his werk forsake,

He is atteint and overtake;

Wherof thou schalt a tale rede,

In Rome as it befell in dede.603

[Pg 142]

[Tale of Lucius and the Statue.]

Er Rome cam to the creance

Of Cristes feith, it fell per chance,

Hic loquitur de illis qui laruata consciencia Sacrilegium sibi licere fingunt. Et narrat quod, cum quidam Lucius clericus famosus et Imperatori notus deum suum Apollinem in templo Rome de anulo suo, pallio et barba aurea spoliasset, ipse tandem apprehensus et coram Imperatore accusatus taliter se excusando ait: ‘Anulum a deo recepi, quia ipse digito protenso ex sua largitate anulum hunc graciose michi optulit; pallium ex lamine aureo constructum tuli, quia aurum maxime ponderosum et frigidum naturaliter consistit, vnde nec in estate propter pondus nec in yeme propter frigus ad dei vestes vtile fuit; barbam ab eo605 deposui, quia ipsum patri suo assimilare volui,606 nam et Apollo, qui ante ipsum in templo607 stetit, absque barba iuvenis apparuit. Et sic ea que gessi non ex furto set honestate608 processisse manifeste declaraui.’

Cesar, which tho was Emperour,

Him liste forto don honour

Unto the temple Apollinis,

And made an ymage upon this,7110*

The which was cleped Apollo.

Was non so riche in Rome tho;

Of plate of gold a berd he hadde,

The which his brest al overspradde;

Of gold also withoute faile

His mantell was of large entaile,

Beset with perrie al aboute,

Forthriht he strawhte his finger oute,

Upon the which he hadde a ryng,

To sen it was a riche thing,7120*

A fin Carbuncle for the nones,604

Most precious of alle Stones.

And fell that time in Rome thus:

Ther was a clerk, on Lucius,

A Courteour, a famous man,

Of every witt somwhat he can,

Outake that him lacketh reule

His oghne astat to guide and reule;

P. ii. 367

How so it stod of his spekinge,

He was noght wys in his doinge.7130*

Bot every riot ate laste

Mot nedes falle and mai noght laste:

After the meede of his decerte,

So fell this clerk into poverte

And wiste noght how forto ryse;

Wherof in many a sondri wyse

[Pg 143]

He caste his wittes hier and ther,

He loketh nyh, he loketh fer,

Til on a time that he com

Into the temple, and hiede he nom6097140*

Wher that the god Apollo stod.

He sih the richesse and the good,

And thoghte he wolde be som weie

The tresor pyke and stele aweie;

And therupon so slyhly wroghte,

That his pourpos aboute he broghte,

And wente awey unaparceived.

Thus hath the man his god deceived,610

His ryng, his mantell and his beerd,

As he which nothing was a feerd,6117150*

Al prively with him he bar:

And whan the wardeins weren war

Of that here god despuiled was,

Hem thoghte it was a wonder cas,

How that a man for eny wele

Durste in so holy place stele,612

And namely so gret a thing.613

This tale cam unto the king,

P. ii. 368

And was thurgh spoken overal:

Bot forto knowe in special7160*

What maner man hath do the dede,

Thei soghten help upon the nede

And maden calculacioun,

Wherof be demonstracioun

The man was founde with the good.

In juggement and whan he stood,

The king hath axed of him thus:

‘Sey, thou unsely Lucius,

Whi hast thou do this sacrilegge?’

[Pg 144]

‘Mi lord, if I the cause allegge,’7170*

Quod he ayein, ‘me thenketh this,

That I have do nothing amis.

Thre pointz ther ben whiche I have do,

Wherof the ferste point stant so,

That I the ryng have take aweie.

As unto that this wole I seie:614

Whan I the god behield aboute,

I sih how he his hond strawhte oute

And profred me the ryng to yive;

And I, which wolde gladly live7180*

Out of poverte of his largesse,615

It underfing, so that I gesse,

As therof I am noght to wyte.616

And overmore I wol me quite,

Of gold that I the mantell tok:

Gold in his kinde, as seith the bok,

Is hevy bothe and cold also;

And for that it was hevy so,

P. ii. 369

Me thoghte it was no garnement

Unto the god convenient,7190*

To clothen him the somer tide;

I thoghte upon that other side

How gold is cold, and such a cloth

Be resoun oghte to be loth

In wynter time for the chele.

And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,

As I myn yhe aboute caste,

His large beerd thanne ate laste

I syh, and thoghte anon therfore

How that his fader him before,7200*

Which stod upon the same place,

Was beerdles with a yongly face:

And in such wise as ye have herd

I tok awey the Sones berd,617

For that his fader hadde non,

To make hem liche, and hier upon

I axe forto ben excused.’

Lo thus, wher Sacrilegge is used,

A man can feigne his conscience;

And riht upon such evidence7210*

In loves cause, &c. (as 7033 ff.)

[Pg 145]

In loves cause if I schal trete,

[Sacrilege of Lovers.]

Ther ben of suche smale and grete:

If thei no leisir fynden elles,

Thei wol noght wonden for the belles,

Ne thogh thei sen the Prest at masse;

That wol thei leten overpasse.

If that thei finde here love there,

Thei stonde and tellen in hire Ere, 7040

P. ii. 370

And axe of god non other grace,

Whyl thei ben in that holi place;

Bot er thei gon som avantage

Ther wol thei have, and som pilage

Of goodli word or of beheste,

Or elles thei take ate leste

Out of hir hand or ring or glove,

So nyh the weder thei wol love,618

As who seith sche schal noght foryete,

Nou I this tokne of hire have gete: 7050

Thus halwe thei the hihe feste.

Such thefte mai no cherche areste,

For al is leveful that hem liketh,619

To whom that elles it misliketh.

And ek riht in the selve kinde

In grete Cites men mai finde

This lusti folk, that make it gay,

And waite upon the haliday:

In cherches and in Menstres eke

Thei gon the wommen forto seke, 7060

And wher that such on goth aboute,

Tofore the faireste of the route,

Wher as thei sitten alle arewe,

Ther wol he most his bodi schewe,

His croket kembd and theron set

A Nouche with a chapelet,

Or elles on of grene leves,

Which late com out of the greves,

Al for he scholde seme freissh.

And thus he loketh on the fleissh,620 7070

P. ii. 371[Pg 146]

Riht as an hauk which hath a sihte

Upon the foul, ther he schal lihte;(7250*)

And as he were of faierie,

He scheweth him tofore here yhe

In holi place wher thei sitte,

Al forto make here hertes flitte.

His yhe nawher wole abyde,

Bot loke and prie on every syde621

On hire and hire, as him best lyketh:

And otherwhile among he syketh; 7080

Thenkth on of hem, ‘That was for me,’

And so ther thenken tuo or thre,

And yit he loveth non of alle,

Bot wher as evere his chance falle.

And natheles to seie a soth,

The cause why that he so doth

Is forto stele an herte or tuo,

Out of the cherche er that he go:

And as I seide it hier above,

Al is that Sacrilege of love; 7090

For wel mai be he stelth away

That he nevere after yelde may.

Tell me forthi, my Sone, anon,

Hast thou do Sacrilege, or non,622

As I have said in this manere?

Confessio Amantis.

Mi fader, as of this matiere

I wole you tellen redely

What I have do; bot trewely

I mai excuse min entente,

That nevere I yit to cherche wente 7100

P. ii. 372

In such manere as ye me schryve,

For no womman that is on lyve.

The cause why I have it laft

Mai be for I unto that craft

Am nothing able so to stele,

Thogh ther be wommen noght so fele.623

Bot yit wol I noght seie this,

Whan I am ther mi ladi is,

[Pg 147]

In whom lith holly mi querele,

And sche to cherche or to chapele 7110

Wol go to matins or to messe,—

That time I waite wel and gesse,

To cherche I come and there I stonde,

And thogh I take a bok on honde,

Mi contienance is on the bok,

Bot toward hire is al my lok;

And if so falle that I preie

Unto mi god, and somwhat seie

Of Paternoster or of Crede,624

Al is for that I wolde spede, 7120

So that mi bede in holi cherche

Ther mihte som miracle werche(7300*)

Mi ladi herte forto chaunge,

Which evere hath be to me so strange.625

So that al mi devocion

And al mi contemplacion

With al min herte and mi corage

Is only set on hire ymage;

And evere I waite upon the tyde.

If sche loke eny thing asyde, 7130

P. ii. 373

That I me mai of hire avise,626

Anon I am with covoitise

So smite, that me were lief

To ben in holi cherche a thief;

Bot noght to stele a vestement,

For that is nothing mi talent,

Bot I wold stele, if that I mihte,627

A glad word or a goodly syhte;

And evere mi service I profre,

And namly whan sche wol gon offre, 7140

For thanne I lede hire, if I may,

For somwhat wolde I stele away.

Whan I beclippe hire on the wast,

Yit ate leste I stele a tast,

And otherwhile ‘grant mercy’

Sche seith, and so winne I therby

[Pg 148]

A lusti touch, a good word eke,

Bot al the remenant to seke

Is fro mi pourpos wonder ferr.

So mai I seie, as I seide er, 7150

In holy cherche if that I wowe,

My conscience it wolde allowe,628

Be so that up amendement

I mihte gete assignement

Wher forto spede in other place:

Such Sacrilege I holde a grace.

And thus, mi fader, soth to seie,

In cherche riht as in the weie,

If I mihte oght of love take,

Such hansell have I noght forsake.629 7160

P. ii. 374

Bot finali I me confesse,

Ther is in me non holinesse,

whil I hire se in eny stede;630

And yit, for oght that evere I dede,

No Sacrilege of hire I tok,

Bot if it were of word or lok,631

Or elles if that I hir fredde,

Whan I toward offringe hir ledde,

Take therof what I take may,

For elles bere I noght away: 7170

For thogh I wolde oght elles have,

Alle othre thinges ben so save632(7350*)

And kept with such a privilege,

That I mai do no Sacrilege.

God wot mi wille natheles,

Thogh I mot nedes kepe pes

And malgre myn so let it passe,633

Mi will therto is noght the lasse,

If I mihte other wise aweie.

Forthi, mi fader, I you preie, 7180

Tell what you thenketh therupon,634

If I therof have gult or non.

[Pg 149]

Confessor.

Thi will, mi Sone, is forto blame,

The remenant is bot a game,

That I have herd the telle as yit.

Bot tak this lore into thi wit,

That alle thing hath time and stede,

The cherche serveth for the bede,

The chambre is of an other speche.

Bot if thou wistest of the wreche, 7190

P. ii. 375

Hou Sacrilege it hath aboght,

Thou woldest betre ben bethoght;

And for thou schalt the more amende,

A tale I wole on the despende.635

[Tale of Paris and Helen.]

To alle men, as who seith, knowe

It is, and in the world thurgh blowe,

Hic in amoris causa super istius vicii articulo ponit exemplum. Et narrat, pro eo quod Paris Priami Regis filius Helenam Menelai vxorem in quadam Grecie insula a templo Veneris Sacrilegus abduxit, illa Troie famosissima636 obsidio per vniuersi637 orbis climata divulgata precipue causabatur.638 Ita quod huiusmodi Sacrilegium non solum ad ipsius regis Priami omniumque suorum interitum, set eciam ad perpetuam vrbis desolacionem vindicte fomitem ministrabat.

Hou that of Troie Lamedon

To Hercules and to Jasoun,

Whan toward Colchos out of Grece

Be See sailende upon a piece 7200

Of lond of Troie reste preide,—

Bot he hem wrathfulli congeide:

And for thei founde him so vilein,

Whan thei come into Grece ayein,

With pouer that thei gete myhte

Towardes Troie thei hem dyhte,

And ther thei token such vengance,

Wherof stant yit the remembrance;639

For thei destruide king and al,

And leften bot the brente wal. 7210

The Grecs of Troiens many slowe

And prisoners thei toke ynowe,

Among the whiche ther was on,

The kinges doughter Lamedon,

Esiona, that faire thing,640

Which unto Thelamon the king

Be Hercules and be thassent

Of al the hole parlement

[Pg 150]

Was at his wille yove and granted.

And thus hath Grece Troie danted, 7220

P. ii. 376

And hom thei torne in such manere:

Bot after this nou schalt thou hiere(7400*)

The cause why this tale I telle,641

Upon the chances that befelle.

King Lamedon, which deide thus,

He hadde a Sone, on Priamus,

Which was noght thilke time at hom:

Bot whan he herde of this, he com,

And fond hou the Cite was falle,

Which he began anon to walle 7230

And made ther a cite newe,

That thei whiche othre londes knewe

Tho seiden, that of lym and Ston

In al the world so fair was non.

And on that o side of the toun

The king let maken Ylioun,642

That hihe Tour, that stronge place,

Which was adrad of no manace

Of quarel nor of non engin;

And thogh men wolde make a Myn, 7240

No mannes craft it mihte aproche,

For it was sett upon a roche.

The walles of the toun aboute,

Hem stod of al the world no doute,

And after the proporcion

Sex gates weren of the toun

Of such a forme, of such entaile,

That hem to se was gret mervaile:

The diches weren brode and depe,

A fewe men it mihte kepe 7250

P. ii. 377

From al the world, as semeth tho,

Bot if the goddes weren fo.

Gret presse unto that cite drouh,

So that ther was of poeple ynouh,

Of Burgeis that therinne duellen;

Ther mai no mannes tunge tellen

[Pg 151]

Hou that cite was riche of good.643

Whan al was mad and al wel stod,

King Priamus tho him bethoghte

What thei of Grece whilom wroghte, 7260

And what was of her swerd devoured,

And hou his Soster deshonoured

With Thelamon awey was lad:

And so thenkende he wax unglad,644

And sette anon a parlement,

To which the lordes were assent.

In many a wise ther was spoke,

Hou that thei mihten ben awroke,

Bot ate laste natheles

Thei seiden alle, ‘Acord and pes.’ 7270

To setten either part in reste645

It thoghte hem thanne for the beste(7450*)

With resonable amendement;

And thus was Anthenor forth sent646

To axe Esionam ayein647

And witen what thei wolden sein.

So passeth he the See be barge648

To Grece forto seie his charge,

The which he seide redely

Unto the lordes by and by: 7280

P. ii. 378

Bot where he spak in Grece aboute,

He herde noght bot wordes stoute,

And nameliche of Thelamon;

The maiden wolde he noght forgon,

He seide, for no maner thing,

And bad him gon hom to his king,

For there gat he non amende

For oght he couthe do or sende.

This Anthenor ayein goth hom

Unto his king, and whan he com, 7290

He tolde in Grece of that he herde,

And hou that Thelamon ansuerde,

[Pg 152]

And hou thei were at here above,

That thei wol nouther pes ne love,

Bot every man schal don his beste.

Bot for men sein that nyht hath reste,

The king bethoghte him al that nyht,649

And erli, whan the dai was lyht,

He tok conseil of this matiere;

And thei acorde in this manere, 7300

That he withouten eny lette

A certein time scholde sette

Of Parlement to ben avised:650

And in the wise it was devised,

Of parlement he sette a day,

And that was in the Monthe of Maii.

This Priamus hadde in his yhte

A wif, and Hecuba sche hyhte,

Be whom that time ek hadde he

Of Sones fyve, and douhtres thre 7310

P. ii. 379

Besiden hem, and thritty mo,651

And weren knyhtes alle tho,

Bot noght upon his wif begete,

Bot elles where he myhte hem gete

Of wommen whiche he hadde knowe;

Such was the world at thilke throwe:

So that he was of children riche,

As therof was noman his liche.652

Of Parlement the dai was come,

Ther ben the lordes alle and some; 7320

Tho was pronounced and pourposed,

And al the cause hem was desclosed,(7500*)

Hou Anthenor in Grece ferde.

Thei seten alle stille and herde,

And tho spak every man aboute:

Ther was alegged many a doute,

And many a proud word spoke also;653

Bot for the moste part as tho654

[Pg 153]

Thei wisten noght what was the beste,

Or forto werre or forto reste. 7330

Bot he that was withoute fere,

Hector, among the lordes there

His tale tolde in such a wise,

And seide, ‘Lordes, ye ben wise,

Ye knowen this als wel as I,

Above all othre most worthi655

Stant nou in Grece the manhode

Of worthinesse and of knihthode;

For who so wole it wel agrope,

To hem belongeth al Europe, 7340

P. ii. 380

Which is the thridde parti evene

Of al the world under the hevene;

And we be bot of folk a fewe.

So were it reson forto schewe656

The peril, er we falle thrinne:

Betre is to leve, than beginne

Thing which as mai noght ben achieved;

He is noght wys that fint him grieved,

And doth so that his grief be more;

For who that loketh al tofore 7350

And wol noght se what is behinde,

He mai fulofte hise harmes finde:

Wicke is to stryve and have the worse.

We have encheson forto corse,

This wot I wel, and forto hate

The Greks; bot er that we debate

With hem that ben of such a myht,

It is ful good that every wiht

Be of himself riht wel bethoght.

Bot as for me this seie I noght; 7360

For while that mi lif wol stonde,

If that ye taken werre on honde,

Falle it to beste or to the werste,657

I schal miselven be the ferste

To grieven hem, what evere I may.

[Pg 154]

I wol noght ones seie nay

To thing which that youre conseil demeth,

For unto me wel more it quemeth

The werre certes than the pes;

Bot this I seie natheles, 7370

P. ii. 381

As me belongeth forto seie.

Nou schape ye the beste weie.’(7550*)

Whan Hector hath seid his avis,

Next after him tho spak Paris,

Which was his brother, and alleide

What him best thoghte, and thus he seide:

‘Strong thing it is to soffre wrong,

And suffre schame is more strong,

Bot we have suffred bothe tuo;

And for al that yit have we do 7380

What so we mihte to reforme

The pes, whan we in such a forme658

Sente Anthenor, as ye wel knowe.

And thei here grete wordes blowe

Upon her wrongful dedes eke;

And who that wole himself noght meke

To pes, and list no reson take,

Men sein reson him wol forsake:659

For in the multitude of men

Is noght the strengthe, for with ten 7390

It hath be sen in trew querele660

Ayein an hundred false dele,

And had the betre of goddes grace.

This hath befalle in many place;

And if it like unto you alle,

I wole assaie, hou so it falle,

Oure enemis if I mai grieve;

For I have cawht a gret believe

Upon a point I wol declare.

This ender day, as I gan fare661 7400

P. ii. 382

To hunte unto the grete hert,

Which was tofore myn houndes stert,

[Pg 155]

And every man went on his syde662

Him to poursuie, and I to ryde

Began the chace, and soth to seie,663

Withinne a while out of mi weie

I rod, and nyste where I was.

And slep me cauhte, and on the gras

Beside a welle I lay me doun

To slepe, and in a visioun664 7410

To me the god Mercurie cam;

Goddesses thre with him he nam,

Minerve, Venus and Juno,

And in his hond an Appel tho

He hield of gold with lettres write:

And this he dede me to wite,

Hou that thei putt hem upon me,665

That to the faireste of hem thre

Of gold that Appel scholde I yive.666

With ech of hem tho was I schrive, 7420

And echon faire me behihte;

Bot Venus seide, if that sche mihte(7600*)

That Appel of mi yifte gete,

Sche wolde it neveremor foryete,

And seide hou that in Grece lond

Sche wolde bringe unto myn hond

Of al this Erthe the faireste;

So that me thoghte it for the beste,

To hire and yaf that Appel tho.

Thus hope I wel, if that I go, 7430

P. ii. 383

That sche for me wol so ordeine,

That thei matiere forto pleigne

Schul have, er that I come ayein.

Nou have ye herd that I wol sein:

Sey ye what stant in youre avis.’

And every man tho seide his,

And sundri causes thei recorde,

Bot ate laste thei acorde

That Paris schal to Grece wende,

[Pg 156]

And thus the parlement tok ende. 7440

Cassandra, whan sche herde of this,667

The which to Paris Soster is,

Anon sche gan to wepe and weile,

And seide, ‘Allas, what mai ous eile?

Fortune with hire blinde whiel

Ne wol noght lete ous stonde wel:

For this I dar wel undertake,

That if Paris his weie take,

As it is seid that he schal do,

We ben for evere thanne undo.’ 7450

This, which Cassandre thanne hihte,

In al the world as it berth sihte,

In bokes as men finde write,

Is that Sibille of whom ye wite,

That alle men yit clepen sage.

Whan that sche wiste of this viage,

Hou Paris schal to Grece fare,

No womman mihte worse fare

Ne sorwe more than sche dede;

And riht so in the same stede 7460

P. ii. 384

Ferde Helenus, which was hir brother,

Of prophecie and such an other:

And al was holde bot a jape,

So that the pourpos which was schape,

Or were hem lief or were hem loth,668

Was holde, and into Grece goth

This Paris with his retenance.

And as it fell upon his chance,

Of Grece he londeth in an yle,

And him was told the same whyle669 7470

Of folk which he began to freyne,

Tho was in thyle queene Heleyne,(7650*)

And ek of contres there aboute

Of ladis many a lusti route,

With mochel worthi poeple also.

And why thei comen theder tho,

The cause stod in such a wise,—

[Pg 157]

For worschipe and for sacrifise

That thei to Venus wolden make,

As thei tofore hadde undertake, 7480

Some of good will, some of beheste,

For thanne was hire hihe feste

Withinne a temple which was there.

Whan Paris wiste what thei were,

Anon he schop his ordinance

To gon and don his obeissance

To Venus on hire holi day,

And dede upon his beste aray.

With gret richesse he him behongeth,

As it to such a lord belongeth, 7490

P. ii. 385

He was noght armed natheles,

Bot as it were in lond of pes,

And thus he goth forth out of Schipe

And takth with him his felaschipe:

In such manere as I you seie

Unto the temple he hield his weie.

Tydinge, which goth overal

To grete and smale, forth withal

Com to the queenes Ere and tolde

Hou Paris com, and that he wolde 7500

Do sacrifise to Venus:

And whan sche herde telle thus,

She thoghte, hou that it evere be,

That sche wole him abyde and se.670

Forth comth Paris with glad visage

Into the temple on pelrinage,

Wher unto Venus the goddesse

He yifth and offreth gret richesse,

And preith hir that he preie wolde.

And thanne aside he gan beholde,671 7510

And sih wher that this ladi stod;

And he forth in his freisshe mod

Goth ther sche was and made hir chiere,

As he wel couthe in his manere,

That of his wordes such plesance

Sche tok, that al hire aqueintance,

[Pg 158]

Als ferforth as the herte lay,

He stal er that he wente away.

So goth he forth and tok his leve,

And thoghte, anon as it was eve, 7520

P. ii. 386

He wolde don his Sacrilegge,

That many a man it scholde abegge.(7700*)

Whan he to Schipe ayein was come,

To him he hath his conseil nome,

And al devised the matiere

In such a wise as thou schalt hiere.

Withinne nyht al prively

His men he warneth by and by,

That thei be redy armed sone

For certein thing which was to done: 7530

And thei anon ben redi alle,

And ech on other gan to calle,

And went hem out upon the stronde672

And tok a pourpos ther alonde

Of what thing that thei wolden do,673

Toward the temple and forth thei go.

So fell it, of devocion

Heleine in contemplacion

With many an other worthi wiht

Was in the temple and wok al nyht, 7540

To bidde and preie unto thymage674

Of Venus, as was thanne usage;

So that Paris riht as him liste

Into the temple, er thei it wiste,675

Com with his men al sodeinly,

And alle at ones sette ascry

In hem whiche in the temple were,

For tho was mochel poeple there;

Bot of defense was no bote,

So soffren thei that soffre mote. 7550

P. ii. 387

Paris unto the queene wente,

And hire in bothe hise armes hente

With him and with his felaschipe,

And forth thei bere hire unto Schipe.676

[Pg 159]

Up goth the Seil and forth thei wente,

And such a wynd fortune hem sente,

Til thei the havene of Troie cauhte;

Where out of Schipe anon thei strauhte

And gon hem forth toward the toun,

The which cam with processioun 7560

Ayein Paris to sen his preie.

And every man began to seie

To Paris and his felaschipe

Al that thei couthen of worschipe;

Was non so litel man in Troie,

That he ne made merthe and joie

Of that Paris hath wonne Heleine.

Bot al that merthe is sorwe and peine

To Helenus and to Cassaundre;

For thei it token schame and sklaundre677 7570

And lost of al the comun grace,

That Paris out of holi place(7750*)

Be Stelthe hath take a mannes wif,

Wherof that he schal lese his lif

And many a worthi man therto,

And al the Cite be fordo,

Which nevere schal be mad ayein.

And so it fell, riht as thei sein,

The Sacrilege which he wroghte

Was cause why the Gregois soughte 7580

P. ii. 388

Unto the toun and it beleie,

And wolden nevere parte aweie,

Til what be sleihte and what be strengthe

Thei hadde it wonne in brede and lengthe,

And brent and slayn that was withinne.

Now se, mi Sone, which a sinne

Is Sacrilege in holy stede:

Be war therfore and bidd thi bede,

And do nothing in holy cherche,

Bot that thou miht be reson werche. 7590

And ek tak hiede of Achilles,

Whan he unto his love ches

Polixena, that was also

[Pg 160]

In holi temple of Appollo,

Which was the cause why he dyde

And al his lust was leyd asyde.

And Troilus upon Criseide

Also his ferste love leide

In holi place, and hou it ferde,

As who seith, al the world it herde;678 7600

Forsake he was for Diomede,

Such was of love his laste mede.

Confessor.

Forthi, mi Sone, I wolde rede,

Be this ensample as thou myht rede,679

Sech elles, wher thou wolt, thi grace,

And war the wel in holi place

What thou to love do or speke,

In aunter if it so be wreke

As thou hast herd me told before.

[Divisions of Avarice.]

And tak good hiede also therfore 7610

P. ii. 389

Upon what forme, of Avarice680

Mor than of eny other vice,

I have divided in parties

The branches, whiche of compainies

Thurghout the world in general

Ben nou the leders overal,

Of Covoitise and of Perjure,

Of fals brocage and of Usure,

Of Skarsnesse and Unkindeschipe,681

Which nevere drouh to felaschipe, 7620

Of Robberie and privi Stelthe,682

Which don is for the worldes welthe,(7800*)

Of Ravine and of Sacrilegge,

Which makth the conscience agregge;

Althogh it mai richesse atteigne,

It floureth, bot it schal noght greine

Unto the fruit of rihtwisnesse.

Bot who that wolde do largesse

Upon the reule as it is yive,

So myhte a man in trouthe live683 7630

Toward his god, and ek also[Pg 161]

Toward the world, for bothe tuo

Largesse awaiteth as belongeth,

To neither part that he ne wrongeth;684

He kepth himself, he kepth his frendes,

So stant he sauf to bothe hise endes,

That he excedeth no mesure,

So wel he can himself mesure:

Wherof, mi Sone, thou schalt wite,

So as the Philosophre hath write. 7640

[Prodigality and Largess.]

P. ii. 390

xiii. Prodegus et parcus duo sunt extrema, que largus685

Est horum medius, plebis in ore bonus.

Nota hic de virtute Largitatis, que ad oppositum Auaricie inter duo extrema, videlicet Parcimoniam et Prodegalitatem, specialiter consistit.

Betwen the tuo extremites

Of vice stant the propretes

Of vertu, and to prove it so

Tak Avarice and tak also

The vice of Prodegalite;

Betwen hem Liberalite,

Which is the vertu of Largesse,

Stant and governeth his noblesse.

For tho tuo vices in discord

Stonde evere, as I finde of record; 7650

So that betwen here tuo debat

Largesse reuleth his astat.

For in such wise as Avarice,

As I tofore have told the vice,

Thurgh streit holdinge and thurgh skarsnesse

Stant in contraire to Largesse,

Riht so stant Prodegalite

Revers, bot noght in such degre.

For so as Avarice spareth,

And forto kepe his tresor careth, 7660

That other al his oghne and more

Ayein the wise mannes lore

Yifth and despendeth hiere and there,

So that him reccheth nevere where.

While he mai borwe, he wol despende,

[Pg 162]

Til ate laste he seith, ‘I wende’;

Bot that is spoken al to late,

For thanne is poverte ate gate

P. ii. 391

And takth him evene be the slieve,

For erst wol he no wisdom lieve. 7670

And riht as Avarice is Sinne,

That wolde his tresor kepe and winne,(7850*)

Riht so is Prodegalite:

Bot of Largesse in his degre,

Which evene stant betwen the tuo,

The hihe god and man also

The vertu ech of hem commendeth.

For he himselven ferst amendeth,

That overal his name spredeth,

And to alle othre, where it nedeth, 7680

He yifth his good in such a wise,

That he makth many a man arise,

Which elles scholde falle lowe.

Largesce mai noght ben unknowe;

For what lond that he regneth inne,

It mai noght faile forto winne

Thurgh his decerte love and grace,

Wher it schal faile in other place.

And thus betwen tomoche and lyte686

Largesce, which is noght to wyte, 7690

Halt evere forth the middel weie:

Bot who that torne wole aweie

Fro that to Prodegalite,

Anon he lest the proprete687

Of vertu and goth to the vice;

For in such wise as Avarice

Lest for scarsnesse his goode name,

Riht so that other is to blame,

P. ii. 392

Which thurgh his wast mesure excedeth,

For noman wot what harm that bredeth.688 7700

Bot mochel joie ther betydeth,689

[Pg 163]

Wher that largesse an herte guydeth:

For his mesure is so governed,

That he to bothe partz is lerned,

To god and to the world also,

He doth reson to bothe tuo.

The povere folk of his almesse

Relieved ben in the destresse

Of thurst, of hunger and of cold;

The yifte of him was nevere sold, 7710

Bot frely yive, and natheles

The myhti god of his encress

Rewardeth him of double grace;

The hevene he doth him to pourchace

And yifth him ek the worldes good:

And thus the Cote for the hod

Largesse takth, and yit no Sinne

He doth, hou so that evere he winne.

Lucas. Omni habenti dabitur.

What man hath hors men yive him hors,

And who non hath of him no fors, 7720

For he mai thanne on fote go;

The world hath evere stonde so.

Bot forto loken of the tweie,

A man to go the siker weie,

Beacius est dare quam accipere.690

Betre is to yive than to take:

With yifte a man mai frendes make,

P. ii. 393

Bot who that takth or gret or smal,

He takth a charge forth withal,

And stant noght fre til it be quit.

So forto deme in mannes wit, 7730

It helpeth more a man to have

His oghne good, than forto crave

Of othre men and make him bounde,

Wher elles he mai stonde unbounde.

Seneca. Si res tue tibi non sufficiant, fac vt rebus tuis sufficias.

Senec conseileth in this wise,

And seith, ‘Bot if thi good suffise

Unto the liking of thi wille,

Withdrawh thi lust and hold the stille,

And be to thi good sufficant.’

[Pg 164]

Apostolus.691 Ordinata caritas incipit a seipsa.

For that thing is appourtenant 7740

To trouthe and causeth to be fre

After the reule of charite,

Which ferst beginneth of himselve.

For if thou richest othre tuelve,

Wherof thou schalt thiself be povere,

I not what thonk thou miht recovere.

Whil that a man hath good to yive,

With grete routes he mai live

And hath his frendes overal,

And everich of him telle schal. 7750

Therwhile he hath his fulle packe,692

Thei seie, ‘A good felawe is Jacke’;

Bot whanne it faileth ate laste,

Anon his pris thei overcaste,

For thanne is ther non other lawe

Bot, ‘Jacke was a good felawe.’

P. ii. 394

Whan thei him povere and nedy se,

Thei lete him passe and farwel he;

Al that he wende of compainie

Is thanne torned to folie. 7760

[Prodigality of Lovers.]

Bot nou to speke in other kinde

Of love, a man mai suche finde,

That wher thei come in every route

Thei caste and waste her love aboute,

Til al here time is overgon,

And thanne have thei love non:693

For who that loveth overal,

It is no reson that he schal(7900*)

Of love have eny proprete.

Forthi, mi Sone, avise thee 7770

If thou of love hast be to large,

For such a man is noght to charge:

And if it so be that thou hast

Despended al thi time in wast

And set thi love in sondri place,

Though thou the substance of thi grace

[Pg 165]

Lese ate laste, it is no wonder;

For he that put himselven under,

As who seith, comun overal,

He lest the love special 7780

Of eny on, if sche be wys;

For love schal noght bere his pris

Be reson, whanne it passeth on.

So have I sen ful many on,694

That were of love wel at ese,

Whiche after felle in gret desese

P. ii. 395

Thurgh wast of love, that thei spente

In sondri places wher thei wente.

Confessor.

Riht so, mi Sone, I axe of thee

If thou with Prodegalite 7790

Hast hier and ther thi love wasted.

Amans.

Mi fader, nay; bot I have tasted

In many a place as I have go,

And yit love I nevere on of tho,

Bot forto drive forth the dai.

For lieveth wel, myn herte is ay

Withoute mo for everemore

Al upon on, for I nomore

Desire bot hire love al one:

So make I many a prive mone, 7800

For wel I fiele I have despended

Mi longe love and noght amended

Mi sped, for oght I finde yit.

If this be wast to youre wit695

Of love, and Prodegalite,

Nou, goode fader, demeth ye:

Bot of o thing I wol me schryve,

That I schal for no love thryve,

Bot if hirself me wol relieve.696

Confessor.

Mi Sone, that I mai wel lieve: 7810

And natheles me semeth so,

For oght that thou hast yit misdo

Of time which thou hast despended,

It mai with grace ben amended.

[Pg 166]

For thing which mai be worth the cost

Per chaunce is nouther wast ne lost;

P. ii. 396

For what thing stant on aventure,697

That can no worldes creature(7950*)

Telle in certein hou it schal wende,698

Til he therof mai sen an ende. 7820

So that I not as yit therfore

If thou, mi Sone, hast wonne or lore:

For ofte time, as it is sene,699

Whan Somer hath lost al his grene

And is with Wynter wast and bare,

That him is left nothing to spare,

Al is recovered in a throwe;

The colde wyndes overblowe,

And stille be the scharpe schoures,700

And soudeinliche ayein his floures 7830

The Somer hapneth and is riche:

And so per cas thi graces liche,

Mi Sone, thogh thou be nou povere

Of love, yit thou miht recovere.

Amans.

Mi fader, certes grant merci:

Ye have me tawht so redeli,

That evere whil I live schal

The betre I mai be war withal

Of thing which ye have seid er this.

Bot overmore hou that it is,701 7840

Toward mi schrifte as it belongeth,

To wite of othre pointz me longeth;

Wherof that ye me wolden teche

With al myn herte I you beseche.

Explicit Liber Quintus.

FOOTNOTES:

1 Latin verses iii. 4 tibi AM ... B₂, AdBT

2 1973 his AM ... B₂

3 1976 margin cupiditatis RCLB₂

4 1978 þauantage (þe auantage) E ... B₂, W þe vantages MH₁XG

5 1979 that om. RCLB₂

6 1981 That on om. B And that oon H₁ hald S, F halt A, B haltd J

7 1988 tofare S, F

8 1992 while] Mile AM

9 2002 he his wille wolde AMH₁E ... B₂

10 2020 ffor him E ... B₂

11 2030 thou schalt it] as þou schalt BT

12 2050 seeþ H₁XG seiþ AM

13 2057 knyhthod S knithod F knyhthode AJ in] on E ... B₂ vp on Δ

14 2059 non oþre AJ, S, F non oþer C, B

15 2068 tho] þat E ... B₂

16 2074 matier(e) to trete H₁L, AdBT, W

17 2079 cophres AC, F cofres (coffres) J, SB

18 2098 ech AJ, B eche F

19 2108 beleft F

20 2114 faste by A, F fasteby J, B

21 2150 unto] it to BT to Δ

22 2157 scholde (schuld &c.) M ... B₂, TΔ, W

23 2162 And þus A ... B₂, W Al þis S ... Δ

24 2177 a slepe B, F aslepe AJ

25 2202 goldringes JE, S, F gold ringes A, B

26 2208 Of þe comuns E ... B₂ (þo EC) Of þe bomeins (?) M Of Romayns W

27 2226 the] his XCB₂, Ad

28 2278 margin eorum om. AMH₁

29 2288 and als so] anon als B and als (as) X, WH₃

30 2291 þe cas S ... Δ

31 2297 lich J, S, F liche A, B

32 2328 vnauanced (vn auanced) ȝe be E ... B₂

33 2350 faute E ... B₂

34 2352 his chois AM ... B₂, BT

35 2357 be falle] byfalle A

36 2405 margin sorte om. A ... B₂

37 2411 He] And BT

38 2412 man] a man AMH₁ men WH₃

39 2417 seeþ B

40 2433 he richesse (om. hath) E ... B₂ richesse he haþ Ad

41 2453 ynowe] I trowe BT

42 2465 Bot] So BT

43 2477 Somon F

44 2482 to] of BT

45 2488 forsakeþ sche is b. BT forsaketh he shal be b. H₃

46 2500 My fader G ... B₂

47 2508 that] þan (þanne) XG, B þough E ... B₂

48 2513 al A, S, F alle J, B

49 2526 hem om. RCB₂ he L

50 2540 for J, FH₃ fro AM ... B₂, S ... Δ, WMagd.

51 2546 Yaf] Of E ... B₂

52 2550 to Hector BT

53 2551 recousse F

54 2554 also] as AM ... B₂, Ad, W

55 2563 he] I (y) BT

56 2564 his] hir X ... B₂, T

57 2571 some] of some A ... B₂, B

58 2573 protectioun (?) F

59 2574 and] of B

60 2579 þe gold is in her cofre AdBT her(e) gold is in her(e) E ... B₂ ther ... her H₁

61 2587 schulde E ... B₂, W hire a pris BTΔ, F hir(e) apris (appris) AJMXERLB₂, W here a pris C her(e) apris H₁, Ad, H₃

62 2591 of] to AJMXG vnto H₁E ... B₂ as Δ

63 2627 To take E ... B₂

64 2637 ensample AM ... B₂, W

65 2658 conseil upon] to conseil in AM ... B₂

66 2666 The B

67 2671 his maister E ... B₂

68 2682 the om. E ... B₂

69 2685 al the] alle (all) XE ... B₂

70 2690 hire] he hir(e) A ... B₂, S ... Δ

71 2694 f.

Whan þat sche was but of ȝong age

ffor good

E ... B₂ (was of L)

72 2696 And lucre E ... B₂

73 2714 Ther was RCLB₂, W Wher was E

74 2735 tolde J, S told A, B, F

75 2737 hath him preid] to him preide B with him p. T

76 2738 seyde BT

77 2740 bidde] didde AM

78 2752 a weie MC, T aweie AJ, B, F

79 2761 faste by AJ, B fasteby F

80 2771 nyh om. E ... B₂

81 2773 þis wise JR, BT, W

82 2776 The stiward BT Theward J seide no þing so B

83 2779 hire fette to] hire fette vnto C ȝou fette vnto B

84 2780 wold(e) H₁E ... B₂, W

85 2793 that om. AdB

86 2816 þe same E ... B₂, S ... Δ, WH₃

87 2836 outher] oþer (oþir) M ... B₂, AdBT, W eiþer Δ

88 2856 wold(e) RCLB₂, W

89 Latin Verses iv. 2 vere A ... CB₂ vero L verba W

90 4-7 om. B

91 7 laudando E ... B₂

92 2863 margin super illis] semper de illis E ... B₂

93 2863 ferst J, S, F ferste A

94 2866 Periurie J, F Periure AC, B

95 2867 margin tam cupiditatis EC causa cup. RLB₂ tam in cupiditate H₁

96 2868 be wroth] wroth AMH₁

97 2872 hepe J, SB, F hipe T hupe C hup A

98 2878 and] of BT in XE, W

99 2900 line om. B

100 2904 suche J, SB such A, F

101 2906 hire AR, F procurous B, F

102 2932 saluely S, F sauely AJ, B

103 2937 euere BT

104 2940 bewreie C, SB be wreie J, F by wreie A

105 2942 of] for BT on W

106 2951 put AJ, S, F (?) putte C, BT

107 2964 as] and BT, H₃

108 2966 And AM ... B₂, W

109 2967 in] of BT

110 2975 this] his AMH₁X

111 2996 hir(e) lady H₁ ... B₂, B, W (here l. G)

112 3004 it] he S ... Δ

113 3026 he] sche E, BT

114 3032 hir B riht] ful E ... B₂

115 3045 put AJ, S, F putte C, B

116 3046 wiþ þat Dedamie RCLB₂

117 3054 the om. AMGRLB₂ alle (maner of man) H₁

118 3058 wolde EL, BT

119 3090 his werk E ... B₂, Δ the werke W

120 3110 burned as þe siluer E ... B₂ b. was with s. W b. was of s. H₃

121 3119 topseilcole ACL, SAd, FH₃ topseil cole (coole) MH₁XGERB₂, BT top seile cole Δ to pseilcole J to Pheilcole W to pleiseil cole Λ

122 3145 Al (Alle) lusti wommen AMH₁ A lusty womman ECLB₂ Of women lusti Ad þat route E ... B₂

123 3152 this] þe BT

124 3158 a contre] þe contre BTΔ

125 3169 the om. B

126 3192 in a Cronique AMH₁RCLB₂, AdΔ, H₃

127 3197 thei] he X, BT

128 3209 whos] which AMH₁XG

129 3210 now a day X, B, WH₃

130 3217 Wher] þer BT

131 3225 Periurie J, B, F Periure AC

132 3237 hertes XL, S ... Δ

133 3241 vnto B of T

134 3246 Who þat wol rede it þer may wite E ... B₂

135 3261 margin illam senectam E ... B₂, BT illa senecta MH₁

136 3281 þerto what þing A ... B₂

137 3290 that] þis B

138 3295 was ful AMH₁XG

139 3300 tok (took) AJ, SB, F toke C, Ad, H₃ (token leue H₁)

140 3304 have mad] to make BT

141 3306 But (Bot) of his lond E ... B₂

142 3311 this] þe B þese X

143 3311 f. gregeis (Gregeis): curteis J, S, F Gregois (gregois): curtois (courtoys) AC, B

144 3321 which þanne (þan) was þe k. E ... B₂ which was the k. H₁, W which was þer k. X

145 3340 tho] þe AM ... B₂

146 3365 thes] þis MXGEC

147 3376 speke(n) AM ... B₂, B, W

148 3393 made AJ, B mad S, F

149 3422 rise RCLB₂, T, W

150 3437 þe same day XE ... B₂, BTΔ

151 3440 he om. E ... B₂

152 3465 lost is l. AYEC, S

153 3472 And nought þer of haþ fro him hid E ... B₂ ben wel MH₁X

154 3481 aschamed A, SB a schamed J, F

155 3482 hire tale AJMXE

156 3484 sette BT

157 3490 departe AMXG

158 3517 the] þo ERC, SBT

159 3533 dethes] hasty E ... B₂

160 3534 leid] brought B

161 3545 and] of BT

162 3582 name RCLB₂, T which AJ, S, F whiche B

163 3599 enoynt J, S, F anoynt AC, B So 3601

164 3619 such(e) wise XGE, B

165 3647 Of swoune RCLB₂, BT Inne swone W uppe nam] vp þo nam E ... B₂ vpon name H₁

166 3665 he om. E ... B₂, BT, W

167 3668 of hem CL on him W

168 3669 vndern ERL, BT, H₃ vndorne X vndur CB₂, W

169 3671 abreide] he breide E ... B₂, BT, H₃

170 3678 was wonder wo] þan was ful wo YE ... B₂, BTΛ

171 3688 ore on] oore in RLB₂, Δ sore in EC, BT (And forþ with all his wey he fongeþ X)

172 3691 set AJ, S, F sette C, B

173 3705 ne] and BT, W

174 3706 þe serpent XB₂, BT, W

175 3720 his plough YE ... B₂, BT the plogh W

176 3742 whan (when) AJC, B whanne F

177 3744 a (ha) lord al is y wonne (al is wonne) YE ... B₂, BTΛ ha lord al now is w. MH₁XG

178 3747 on londe E ... B₂, BTΔ, W

179 3751 he om. AM

180 3765 cried (criede) RCLB₂, Δ

181 3772 to talen] talen B of talen M of tales H₁ to talkan W

182 3791 as tho] also AM ... B₂, BT

183 3796 sche] he H₁, BT

184 3798 al om. AMH₁, H₃W

185 3814 the] þo EC, B

186 3822 mad AJ, S, F made C, B

187 3823 seide ... seide AC, B seid ... seide S, F seid ... seid J

188 3847 of om. E ... B₂, BT

189 3851 ffor if it be E ... B₂, BT, But if hit be W

190 3879 slepte] slep (sleep) YE, B

191 3883 him AH₁XR

192 3888 in compaignie AM ... B₂, BT

193 3914 wolde (wold) M ... B₂, BTΔ, WH₃

194 3956 telle a gret partie B, W tellen it a parti Δ

195 3960 it wiste] wiste CLB₂, BTΔ ne wist(e) MH₁X

196 3962 in euery side E ... B₂, BT

197 3964 Hir heed BT

198 3966 and on] vpon BT

199 3975 dreechinge honde J drenching(e) onde YXGEC, BTΛ drenching(e) hond(e) AH₁RLB₂ dremchinge honde M

200 3990 An F

201 3992 bothe] by þe E, BTΛ but H₃

202 4006 Spertheidos XECB₂, BT

203 4008 and of þe AM ... B₂, BTΔΛ, W

204 4020 To make wiþ þis medicine B line om. TΛ

205 4024 His AMRC, T

206 4029 þat wiþ þe air YE ... B₂, BT þat was with þe air Δ þat was of air XG

207 4043 puttes AJ, B, F pettes S

208 4049 and in such wise] in such a wise C in such(e) wise BT and such(e) wise RLB₂

209 4067 And þan B And þat T

210 4072 þe cook H₁G, BT

211 4073 either] euery AM ... B₂

212 4088 put J, S, F putte AC, B

213 4106 fforþ A ... GC

214 4110 over] euery ERLB₂, W ony C oure X

215 4113 make] take ERCB₂

216 4129 his] hir C, B

217 4137 therafter] after E ... B₂ her (hir) after BT

218 4138 seefoul E, BTΛ sedewolf L

219 4140 that] which E ... B₂, W

220 4151 mede E ... B₂

221 4152 be sene (seene) AJ, B besene S, F

222 4160 and fieble] fieble E, B, W

223 4161 into (in to) AM ... B₂

224 4177 eny stede XGL, BΔ

225 4186 telleþ BT

226 4217 wold C, SB, F wolde AJ

227 4231 herde AJ, F herd C, B

228 4243 schepe felle B

229 4250 margin mortua autem Philen SΔΛ mortua autem Hellen A ... B₂, BT, FWH₃

230 4266 margin cum solo vellere A ... B₂, B

231 4267 margin canitur YGE, BTΔΛ canetur AMH₁XRCLB₂, S, FH₃ habetur W

232 4276 Anon sche bigan for to make E ... B₂ She kest anone howe she myght make W

233 4278 schope AJ, S, F schop (schoop) C, B

234 4307 all S, F alle AJ, B

235 4309 seid AJ, B, F seide C

236 4311 hem haþ preid B hath hem preide W

237 4321 it is AMH₁

238 4330 Wherin J, F

239 4334 þo men H₁XGEC, B

240 4343 þe AMH₁XGB₂, Δ, W

241 4349 was lore H₁ ... B₂

242 4351 As] And AM ... B₂

243 4352 hirself adreynt B

244 4361 was spoke H₁XECLB₂

245 4367 To him þat BT, W

246 4369 you] þou H₁YB₂, BT, WH₃

247 4391 where þe biȝete sterte EC wher euere þei be ȝit stert(e) H₁XRLB₂

248 4396 To] And H₁ ... B₂

249 4402 by so AMH₁XRCLB₂, B so W

250 4411 thei] sche B

251 4413 wolde he H₁XRCLB₂

252 4423 of continuance BT and contenance LB₂, WH₃

253 4425 his om. AM ... B₂

254 4427 wher it is A ... B₂, FWKH₃

255 4452 it were AM

256 4462 ther] þat BT

257 4468 My þought and al my loue BT Mi loue and al mi trewþe Δ

258 4485 sein (seie) MXCLB₂, W

259 4504 mihte S miht (might) AJ, B, F

260 4507 usure] mesure BT

261 4512 al þis BT

262 4518 als so] als (as) X, Ad, WH₃

263 4523 it om. B

264 4525 Thus beie I diere] I beye deere H₁ ... B₂

265 4526 noght om. H₁RCLB₂, W

266 4565 þe ende H₁ ... B₂

267 4568 riht wel paid] wel a payd (appaied) H₁ ... B₂

268 4571 of suche dede BT

269 4574 thogh] of ERCB₂ if H₁

270 4576 ffro whom AM

271 4579 hire AJM

272 4586 margin decreuit, pro eo quod ipsa Eccho om. BT, H₃

273 4587 on om. BT

274 4595 that om. MH₁XRCLB₂, Δ, W

275 4612 was om. AM

276 4634 quite BT, W

277 4642 vice BT

278 4643 in the wodes] euere in wodes AM ... B₂

279 4651 herte XEC, BT, W

280 4652 places XGLB₂, B

281 4671 Blinde AJ, S, F Blind C, B

282 4680 wole A

283 4682 Whan EC

284 4701 By (Bi) so AM ... B₂, B (Be so G)

285 4717 why F which A ... B₂, S ... Δ, KH₃Magd thi W

286 4732 ffor wiþ SΔ

287 4738 By so AMX ... B₂, B

288 4739 I myhte] It m. AM ... B₂, S ... Δ

289 4742 That it schal H₁ ... B₂

290 4770 I schal BT

291 4788 That man H₁ ... B₂

292 4789 margin Babilonem A ... B₂

293 4792 yifte om. H₁RCLB₂

294 4808 Rabio A ... B₂

295 4814 such om. AMRCL

296 4817 Spondeus H₁ ... B₂ Spondius T

297 4818 in om. RCB₂

298 4851 Rabio A ... B₂

299 4856 the] he AM

300 4862 schette (schet) JXERCB₂

301 4868 I] it BT þou H₁ ... B₂

302 4872 wold B

303 4877 thi] þis H₁E ... B₂

304 Latin Verses vii. 2 dicta que SBT dictaque AJM, FW dictique (dicti que) H₁E ... B₂

305 3 alonge AJ, F a longe SB

306 4920 Dampnen þe vnkinde creature H₁ ... B₂ (Dampneth H₁B₂) lifissh S, F liuissh BT liuynge AJM, Δ liflich (livelich) WH₃

307 4921 who that it kan] þat it can AM by þat I can H₁ ... B₂

308 4935 olde AJ, S, F old C, B

309 4942 at] þat XECLB₂ þat at H₁R

310 4944 the om. H₁ ... B₂, BΔ

311 4959 margin ipsum] insuper ipsum AM

312 4981 the] þo B om. T

313 4984 all S, F alle AJ, B

314 4989 f. put: knvt AMC pit: knit H₁XRLB₂, Ad, W

315 4994 þe pit (put &c.) H₁ ... B₂, Ad, W

316 5003 sore] for AM he W

317 5011 fantosme, bot yit] fantasme (fantome) þat BTΛ fantasme and ȝit L fantasie but he ȝit W

318 5021 him hath adresced] þo him haþ dresced H₁XRCLB₂

319 5025 al softe] alofte B softe W

320 5034 If it so be þat he vpbreyde (vmbreide) BT

321 5035 speke F rest spoke

322 5045 o word H₁C, BT one word Δ, W

323 5051 the om. AM

324 5054 aroute F

325 5064 a om. H₁RCLB₂

326 5071 Thonkende] Touchynge AH₁R (Thonkinge in ras. C)

327 5102 That to] Vnto B

328 5105 bot it be grace] but it be bi grace AM but be goddis grace Δ

329 5111 the om. AM

330 5114 so he dede AdBTΔ, W

331 5125 al aboute H₁XRCL

332 5128 þat man H₁ ... B₂

333 5130 him om. BT

334 5131 ek (eek) AJC, BT eke F

335 5134 a mannes] mannes XE, B

336 5145 And in þe AM And tho the H₁

337 5157 the] in AM ... B₂

338 5158 eny AM

339 5159 hem AMGRLB₂

340 5180 eny om. AM

341 5199 bot] by (be) BT for W

342 5204 Wherof AM ... B₂

343 5210 þy þought BT

344 5215 standt S, F stant AC, B standeþ J thi] þe H₁ ... B₂

345 5225 ffor loue H₁ ... B₂

346 5236 bar AJC, BT bare S, F

347 5237 margin suffultus] fultus BT

348 5239 margin vincit H₁ ... B₂

349 5242 vsed AM ... B₂, W

350 5248 dighte F dihte AJ and so also in l. 5352

351 5252 cite H₁ ... B₂, T

352 5277 And] Of B

353 5281 of Troie XC, S ... Δ, W

354 5282 lost hath] lost(e) H₁ ... B₂ hath lost W

355 5288 world] lord BT

356 5299 therinne] euer inne H₁ ... B₂

357 5302 many AC, B manye (manie) S, F monie J

358 5308 As] And X ... B₂

359 5316 this] his L, BT

360 5321 the king] to king E ... B₂, kynge (om. the) X

361 5326 put AJ, S, F putte C, BT

362 5341 sche schold B, W sche wolde T

363 5346 ayeinward] aȝein H₁ ... B₂

364 5349 tok (took) AJC, SB toke F

365 5357 Hou he] How þat he AH₁RCLB₂ How þat M

366 5359 þe maide AM ... B₂

367 5364 So was B gret om. AM wonder AC, BT wondre J, S, F

368 5372 þis ground S ... Δ

369 5387 wold(e) BT

370 5411 f.

And so fell þat vpon an ile

Thei were wind driue wiþinne a while

H₁ ... B₂ (driuen in a while L)

371 5427 his] alle B

372 5430 schipman H₁ ... B₂, W

373 5438 afriht (a fright &c.) A ... B₂ (except E), W

374 5449 it at nede H₁XRCLB₂

375 5456 is] was H₁E ... B₂

376 5457 into] to S ... Δ

377 5464 tresces AC tresses BT trescess J, S, F

378 5465 wiþ hir selue (self) took a strif H₁ ... B₂ wiþ hirself sche took such a s. B

379 5466 betwen(e) deþ H₁ ... B₂

380 5467 lay] weepe (wep) BT

381 5480 after þat S ... Δ

382 5500 as for BT

383 5507 it om. AM ... B₂ (except E)

384 5510 seruant H₁ ... B₂

385 5520 þei failen H₁ ... B₂ he faileth W

386 5522 what] al þat B

387 5524 thee schal] schal M ... B₂ schal þe Δ, W

388 5527 seline BT

389 5532 ladi love] loue desire H₁ ... B₂

390 5533 That] ffor BT was om. H₁ ... B₂

391 5539 wolde H₁ ... B₂

392 5546 lust AMCL listne Δ

393 5557 margin duas filias om. B

394 5559 margin Terco A ... B₂

395 5561 margin cum om. A ... B₂

396 5563 margin sororis A ... B₂, B, W

397 5560 wel om. H₁E ... B

398 5590 sche lay XGB₂, S ... Δ, W

399 5592 kist SB, F kyste (kiste) AJ

400 5597 to] by (be) A ... B₂

401 5600 Vnto B

402 5610 noght om. AM

403 5611 Of þat þey preyde T And þat þei preyde B

404 5621 he om. BT

405 5622 a fyre XC, B

406 5627 that] þe BT

407 5633 which] that H₁, BT om. M, W

408 5646 þi A this] þe M

409 5667 þo stones EC

410 5670 tale] al BT

411 5671 f.

And crie it to briddes al aboute

How þou hast do to me þurghoute H₁ ... B₂

(to þe briddes R)

412 5678 How schalt AM ... B₂ Euel has W

413 5684 a om. A

414 5719 Of] And BT

415 5737 wele vnto E, B welþe into MH₁C grete A, S, F gret JC, B

416 5740 and þus C

417 5743 wrongful þing X ... B₂ wonderfull thyng H₁

418 5748 hadde I S ... Δ

419 5765 wold(e) H₁ECB₂, W

420 5769 tyt (tit) AC, SB tyd J, F

421 5773 hadde (had) do H₁ ... B₂

422 5774 lappeþ B

423 5802 riht om. H₁ ... B₂

424 5807 ther] wher H₁ ... B₂

425 5810 sihe AJ, S, F sih C, B

426 5816 a vov (a vou) J, S, F avow AC, B

427 5837 ladis (ladyes) H₁ ... B₂

428 5859 noght] neuer H₁ ... B₂

429 5873 chambre H₁XELB₂, AdBTΔ, W

430 5878 herkne (herken) LB₂, BTΔ, W

431 5880 The AJMH₁XRLB₂ Tho EC

432 5889 To ... grieue H₁ ... B₂

433 5890 þat was so lieue H₁ ... B₂

434 5918 hier ben nou we] here be we now J nowe we her be W here ben we M hier (here) ben now (om. we) H₁ ... B₂

435 5925 remenbrance F

436 5929 in to H₁ECLB₂, BTΔ, H₃

437 5936 Al sodeinly þat men it syhe H₁ ... B₂

438 5944 þe nightingale XECLB₂

439 5958 Sche thenkth] Sche was H₁ ... B₂

440 5962 larchesse F

441 5966 al] and AM ... L om. B₂

442 5971 sih (sigh &c.) E, AdBT, WH₃ saw Δ (seþ S)

443 5974] þe Philomene H₁ ... B₂

444 5977 openly] priuely H₁ ... B₂

445 5979 O why] Why BT

446 5981 Which AJ, S, F Whiche B

447 6008 world] woode B word T

448 6011 chatreþ (chatereth) AMH₁ chater (chateren) YXG ... B₂

449 6012 falshod A, S, F falshode JC, B

450 6016 wol C, B

451 6019 to vnderstonde H₁E ... B₂

452 6020 falshod A, F falshode J, SB falshede C hire] here (her) H₁ERL, SAdΔ, FH₃

453 6026 no om. AM, Ad þe X, W

454 6042 in H₁E ... B₂

455 6044 he was] of a BT

456 6046 The l. A ... B₂, SAdΔ, WH₃

457 6048 Bewar F Be war AJC, SB

458 6052 to Tereus BT

459 6053 goddes forebode] nay god it forbede X ... B₂ nay god for bede H₁ (goddes forbode AJM, AdT, WH₃)

460 6054 be fortrede (for trede) H₁XECLB₂ to be trede R

461 6059 louer(e) AM ... B₂

462 6076 himseluen (himself) in d. H₁ ... B₂

463 6084 water AC, B watre J, S, F

464 6101 pourchas S ... Δ

465 6103 as] or AMRCL heere H₁ om. E

466 6110 wyldee F wher] þer AM

467 6114 hir(e) chaffare H₁ ... B₂ þi ch. M

468 margin cum om. B

469 6151 þis AM þe H₁XGRB₂ þo EC

470 6162 Neptimus AH₁R, BT, H₃

471 6167 so sod.] al sod. H₁ ... B₂

472 6178 Wherfor(e) to AB₂, Δ Wherof to H₁ Where to BT, W

473 6190 and] ad F lete it be AM

474 6215 Maide] may H₁ ... B₂ him hath] is him S ... Δ hath him W

475 6234 wol B

476 6239 margin quendam] quem B

477 6256 in to A ... B₂, W

478 6257 al a] alle AM al þe (alle the) H₁E ... B₂

479 6267 byde AM

480 6289 he AdBT

481 6293 vngoodlich JC, SB, F vngoodliche A

482 6296 of micherye B

483 6302 chastie EC

484 6304 that om. AM, Ad

485 6313 in honde X, SAdBTΔ

486 6317 happeþ E, AdBTΔ happed W

487 6318 he YEC, AdBT

488 6319 a bough H₁ ... B₂, Δ

489 6324 wodesschawe AJ, F woode schawe C, BT

490 6336 so] tuo E, B too W

491 6341 a weie F

492 6351 olde ensamples AdBT, W

493 Latin Verses x. om. here and ins. later S ... Δ (ins. here Λ)

494 6361 That whilom was an emp. H₁E That whilom þer was emp. XRCLB₂ þat what man was þo emp. Δ

495 6363 and in] and AMR in LB₂

496 6364 margin sedebant H₁RCLB₂

497 6366 of] a AdBT

498 6367 womman H₁ ... B₂, W

499 6372 Phirus AM

500 6378 be om. AM

501 6381 threste] put B

502 6382 him] it B

503 6387 f.

That maidenhode is forto preise

Who þat þe vertus wolde peise

S ... ΔΛ

504 6390 margin Hii secuntur agnum quocunque ierit SΔ

505 6395*-6438* Only in SAdBTΔΛ The text here follows S

506 6396* ff. margin In carne—est om. B

507 6398* Lich BT Liche S

508 Latin Verses x. inserted after 6412* SAdBT after 6413* Δ

509 margin Milicia—terram BΛ om. SΔ

510 6413* book BT boke S

511 6427* dedly BT dedely S

512 6429* stood BT stode S

513 6430* is ȝit SΔ it is AdBTΛ

514 margin contra sue om. B

515 6439* margin castissime B

516 6436* stood BT stode S

517 6408 and] of AdBT

518 6409 put AJ, S, F putte B

519 6418 My fader H₁ ... B₂, Ad mai wel AMEC, S ... ΔΛ

520 6429 take AJ, F tak SB

521 6444 Criseid(e) þe doughter AdBTΔ (Criseide dowhter S)

522 6452 grete AJ, S, F gret C, BT

523 6461 in] hem AXG ... B₂ hym MH₁

524 6463 he founde RCLB₂ be f. E

525 6465 apposed AM ... B₂ (except E)

526 6471 maide and] mayden (maide) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, W

527 6472 ȝaf AM ... B₂, T, W (gave)

528 6486 f.

[Sidenote: Amans.]

My fader so I wole I wis

But now [wiþ] ȝour ensamplerie H₁ ... B₂

(wiþ om. all except E)

529 Latin Verses xi. 1 ad horam E, B

530 2 tempora AdBT

531 3 insidii H₁ ... B₂

532 6499 margin custodire A ... B₂

533 6501 at home H₁ ... B₂

534 6518 wold(e) H₁ ... B₂

535 6533 As] And AdBT, H₃

536 6547 And for AdBT, W

537 6585 wolde AJ, SB wold C, F

538 6597 hih A, F hihe B hye J

539 6617 no om. H₁E ... B₂, H₃

540 6633 pile C

541 6634 skile C

542 6641 I wot wel may I] wel ne may I B wel may I AdT I wot wel I mai Δ

543 6653 tolde] me tolde AM

544 6659 such a wise MH₁E ... B₂, W

545 6667 to] and S ... Δ

546 6678 the] hire (hir) X ... B₂, B here H₁

547 6694 who so AdBT þoght (þought) C, SB þoghte (þouhte) AJ, F

548 6697 ha doo AM kan do Δ

549 6700 put AJ, S, F putte B it on] it in H₁ECL me in B₂

550 6706 tel E, B

551 6715 his lawe AMX ... B₂ hire lawe H₁ þe lawe S ... Δ

552 6717 margin de die] die H₁ ... B₂ de nocte B

553 6728 margin matre nescia] matre H₁RCLB₂ matre nesciente X, B nesciente matre E

554 6731 margin quem om. AMH₁E ... B₂

555 6732 margin nunc H₁ ... B₂

556 6719 Phebus H₁ ... B₂

557 6742 if om. AM

558 6746 thus om. AM

559 6751 which] þat A ... B₂ om. W

560 6756 How it befell and how it was H₁ ... B₂

561 6766 it schal S ... Δ

562 6768 Mow AC, S, F Mowe J, B

563 6769 hir(e) AJM, WH₃

564 6771 do make J, SΔ, FH₃ to make AM, AdBT, W go make H₁ ... B₂

565 6795 he AdBT

566 6802 and om. B

567 6803 bifell AM, Ad, H₃

568 6816 margin sectis ARCLB₂

569 6824 margin voluntatem AM

570 6811 Toward XRCLB₂ Towarde H₁

571 6821 S has lost a leaf (ll. 6821-7000)

572 6836 Weere F Were AC, B Wher(e) JG

573 6839 so om. H₁XRCLB₂ him E

574 6846 herte H₁RCLB₂

575 For 6848-6851 X has—

That he by daye in oþer stede

ffor ouȝte þat he haþ prayde and bede

To stele myȝte nouȝt suffise

Beþouȝte him in a noþer wise

And þer vpon his time awaiteþ

576 6856 him om. A ... B₂

577 6857 hire AM, B

578 6858 That] And AM ... B₂

579 6867 the man] to man H₁ ... B₂

580 6883 Ech AJC, B Eche F hemself B

581 6895 Beginne H₁ ... B₂ (except C), AdBT

582 6925 þrew C, B þrewe AJ, F

583 6932 a route J, B, F arowte A

584 6933 it ferde AdBT

585 6954 Mi om. AdBT

586 6955 on rowe H₁RCLB₂

587 6967 a lawe B

588 7015*-7036* Only in AdBTΛ (not Δ) S is here defective, but did not contain the passage. Text follows B

589 7015* f. taght: naght T

590 7025* euere T euer B

591 7034* þenkeþ B thinkth T

592 7036* rifleth T ruyfleþ B

593 6994 wurse A, F worse JC, B

594 7001 S resumes

595 7007 (7061*) margin SBΔΛ have here Hic tractat precipue de tribus sacrilegis, quorum vnus fuit Antiochus, alter Nabuzardan, tercius Nabugodonosor. (precipue om. Δ)

596 7008 lawe AdBT

597 7009 hou om. H₁ ... B₂

598 7010 sore] alle H₁ ... B₂

599 7022 (7076*) margin Nota de scriptura in pariete tempore Regis Baltazar, que fuit mane, techel, phares SBΛ (scripta B)

600 7025 it om. H₁ ... B₂

601 7086*-7210* Only in SAdBTΔΛ Text here follows S

602 7100* sleyhte SΔ stelþe AdBT

603 7104* line om. BT

604 7121* charboncle AdT charbocle B

605 7126* margin barbam ab eo] barbam a deo BΛ (margin om. AdT)

606 7128* margin volui] nolui BΛ

607 7129* margin qui ante—templo om. B

608 7132* margin set honestate] sed ex honestate BΛ

609 7140* he om. AdBTΛ

610 7148* the] he S

611 7150* a feerd (a ferd) SB aferd T

612 7156* Durste BT Durst S

613 7157* gret BT grete S

614 7176* As vnto þat SΔ Vnto þat AdTΛ Vnto þat point B

615 7181* of SΔ þurgh BT þoro Ad

616 7183* And ... am I AdBTΛ

617 7204* took BT toke S

618 7048 love] houe G, AdBTΛ

619 7053 leueful AJ, S, F leuful C lieful B

620 7070 the fleissh] his fl. AdBTΛ

621 7078 preie (prey) AMH₁

622 7094 do] be CL

623 7106 noght] neuer (neer) A ... B₂

624 7119 or of] of a AM

625 7124 to me haþ be strange H₁ ... B₂, W

626 7131 on hire A ... B₂ on here H₁

627 7137 wold C, S, F wolde AJ, B

628 7152 I wolde AdBTΛ

629 7160 I om. AMR

630 7163 eny] holi S ... ΔΛ

631 7166 as it were H₁ ... B₂ ȝif I were J

632 7172 so] to AM

633 7177 so] sone H₁ ... B₂

634 7181 ȝe þenken AM ȝou þenken H₁XRCL ye thingeth W

635 7194 on þe I wol H₁ ... CB₂ on þe wol I L

636 7203 margin famossima F

637 7205 margin vniuersa BT vniuersum A ... B₂

638 7206 margin causabat A ... B₂

639 7208 the] in AM ... B₂

640 7215 that] þe H₁ ... B₂

641 7223 þe tale H₁ ... B₂

642 7236 maken] make an B

643 7257 of good] and good JH₁, AdBTΛ

644 7264] þo þenkende he B þus þenking he GC he þenking he H₁XRLB₂ he þenking þus E

645 7271 euery AdBT

646 7274 Antenor F

647 7275 Esiona H₁ ... B₂, T

648 7277 be large Ad by grace AM

649 7297 that] þe S ... Δ

650 7303 f. two lines om. AdBT

651 7311 hem] tuo (too) H₁ ... B₂

652 7318 his] him H₁ ... B₂, B, W

653 7327 And a proud word AMH₁XRCL And proude wordes B₂

654 7328 as tho] also AdBT

655 7336 all S, F alle AJ, B

656 7344 forto schewe] forto eschewe (for teschewe &c.) H₁ ... B₂

657 7363 or to werste JXERCL, H₂ falle it to werste H₁B₂

658 7382 This wrong and schame in bettre forme H₁ ... B₂ (The wrong X)

659 7388 wol (wil) him H₁ ... B₂, W

660 7391 trew F trewe AJC, SB

661 7400 ende er dai A

662 7403 went AC, S, F wente J, BT

663 7405 the] to AdBT

664 7410 a visioun MXGCLB₂, Δ, FWH₃ auisioun (avision etc.) AJH₁ER, SAdBT

665 7417 putt A, S, F putte JC, B

666 7419 that] þe AM

667 7441 Cassandre H₁ ... B₂

668 7464 the om. AM ... B₂

669 7470 þat same XRCLB₂, T

670 7504 wolde AdB

671 7510 on side H₁ ... B₂ (except E)

672 7533 went A, SB, F wente JC

673 7535 that om. AM ... B₂

674 7541 unto] to H₁ ... B₂

675 7544 it om. H₁ ... B₂

676 7554 in to AM ... B₂, WH₃ to Δ

677 7570 token] tolden S ... Δ

678 7602 of lust (luste) H₁ ... B₂

679 7604 line om. B

680 7611 what] þe AdBT that W

681 7619 Skarnesse F

682 7621 and of M ... B₂, T

683 7630 to trouþe AMH₁XRCLB₂ by trouþe E

684 7634 partie (party) þat he wrongeþ AM ... B₂

685 Latin Verses xiii. 1 extrema que C, B extremaque J, F

686 7689 tomoche E, S, F to moche AJ, BT tuo (two) moche H₁ ... B₂ (except E) the moche W

687 7694 lost AM ... B₂ (except E) loseth W leueth Δ

688 7700 it bredeþ A ... B₂

689 7701-7746 Forty-six lines om. S ... Δ (ins. Λ)

690 7725 margin Beacius—accipere om. A ... B₂ accipere] ac-pere F

691 7742 margin Aplus A Amplus H₁ERC Amplius B₂ Ambrosius X

692 7751 The whil J, W þat whil C (Al þe while he hath his pak Δ)

693 7766 non] gon AM

694 7784 sene (sen) many on H₁ ... B₂

695 7804 to] vnto E, B

696 7809 wol me AdBT, W me wolde M

697 7817 in auenture AM ... B₂, W

698 7819 Telle JC, SB Tell A, F

699 7823 tymes AdBTΔ

700 7829 stilled S ... Δ

701 7840 euermore H₁XRB₂, BΔ, W

[Pg 167]

Incipit Liber Sextus

P. iii. 1

[Gluttony.]

i. Est gula que nostrum maculauit prima parentem

Ex vetito pomo, quo dolet omnis homo.

Hec agit vt corpus anime contraria spirat,

Quo caro fit crassa, spiritus atque macer.

Intus et exterius si que virtutis habentur,

Potibus ebrietas conuiciata ruit.

Mersa sopore, labris, que Bachus inebriat hospes,

Indignata Venus oscula raro premit.

The grete Senne original,

Which every man in general

Upon his berthe hath envenymed,

Hic in sexto libro tractare intendit de illo capitali vicio quod Gula dicitur, nec non et de eiusdem duabus solummodo speciebus, videlicet Ebrietate et Delicacia, ex quibus humane concupiscencie oblectamentum habundancius augmentatur.

In Paradis it was mystymed:

Whan Adam of thilke Appel bot,

His swete morscel was to hot,

Which dedly made the mankinde.

And in the bokes as I finde,

This vice, which so out of rule

Hath sette ous alle, is cleped Gule;702 10

P. iii. 2

Of which the branches ben so grete,

That of hem alle I wol noght trete,

Bot only as touchende of tuo703

I thenke speke and of no mo;

[i. Drunkenness.]

Wherof the ferste is Dronkeschipe,

Which berth the cuppe felaschipe.

Ful many a wonder doth this vice,

He can make of a wisman nyce,

And of a fool, that him schal seme

That he can al the lawe deme, 20

And yiven every juggement

Which longeth to the firmament

Bothe of the sterre and of the mone;

[Pg 168]

And thus he makth a gret clerk sone

Of him that is a lewed man.

Ther is nothing which he ne can,

Whil he hath Dronkeschipe on honde,

He knowth the See, he knowth the stronde,

He is a noble man of armes,

And yit no strengthe is in his armes: 30

Ther he was strong ynouh tofore,

With Dronkeschipe it is forlore,

And al is changed his astat,

And wext anon so fieble and mat,704

That he mai nouther go ne come,

Bot al togedre him is benome

The pouer bothe of hond and fot,

So that algate abide he mot.

And alle hise wittes he foryet,

The which is to him such a let, 40

P. iii. 3

That he wot nevere what he doth,

Ne which is fals, ne which is soth,

Ne which is dai, ne which is nyht,

And for the time he knowth no wyht,705

That he ne wot so moche as this,

What maner thing himselven is,

Or he be man, or he be beste.

That holde I riht a sori feste,

Whan he that reson understod

So soudeinliche is woxe wod, 50

Or elles lich the dede man,

Which nouther go ne speke can.

Thus ofte he is to bedde broght,

Bot where he lith yit wot he noght,

Til he arise upon the morwe;

And thanne he seith, ‘O, which a sorwe

It is a man be drinkeles!’706

So that halfdrunke in such a res

With dreie mouth he sterte him uppe,707

And seith, ‘Nou baillez ça the cuppe.’ 60

That made him lese his wit at eve[Pg 169]

Is thanne a morwe al his beleve;

The cuppe is al that evere him pleseth,

And also that him most deseseth;

It is the cuppe whom he serveth,

Which alle cares fro him kerveth708

And alle bales to him bringeth:

In joie he wepth, in sorwe he singeth,

For Dronkeschipe is so divers,709

It may no whyle stonde in vers. 70

P. iii. 4

He drinkth the wyn, bot ate laste

The wyn drynkth him and bint him faste,

And leith him drunke be the wal,

As him which is his bonde thral

And al in his subjeccion.

[Love-Drunkenness.]

And lich to such condicion,

As forto speke it other wise,

It falleth that the moste wise

Ben otherwhile of love adoted,710

And so bewhaped and assoted, 80

Of drunke men that nevere yit

Was non, which half so loste his wit

Of drinke, as thei of such thing do

Which cleped is the jolif wo;

And waxen of here oghne thoght

So drunke, that thei knowe noght711

What reson is, or more or lesse.

Such is the kinde of that sieknesse,

And that is noght for lacke of brain,

Bot love is of so gret a main, 90

That where he takth an herte on honde,

Ther mai nothing his miht withstonde:

The wise Salomon was nome,

And stronge Sampson overcome,

The knihtli David him ne mihte

Rescoue, that he with the sihte

Of Bersabee ne was bestad,

Virgile also was overlad,

[Pg 170]

And Aristotle was put under.

Forthi, mi Sone, it is no wonder 100

P. iii. 5

If thou be drunke of love among,712

Which is above alle othre strong:

And if so is that thou so be,

Tell me thi Schrifte in privite;

It is no schame of such a thew

A yong man to be dronkelew.

Of such Phisique I can a part,

And as me semeth be that art,

Thou scholdest be Phisonomie

Be schapen to that maladie 110

Of lovedrunke, and that is routhe.

Confessio Amantis.

Ha, holi fader, al is trouthe

That ye me telle: I am beknowe

That I with love am so bethrowe,

And al myn herte is so thurgh sunke,

That I am verrailiche drunke,

And yit I mai bothe speke and go.

Bot I am overcome so,

And torned fro miself so clene,

That ofte I wot noght what I mene; 120

So that excusen I ne mai

Min herte, fro the ferste day

That I cam to mi ladi kiththe,

I was yit sobre nevere siththe.

Wher I hire se or se hire noght,

With musinge of min oghne thoght,

Of love, which min herte assaileth,

So drunke I am, that mi wit faileth

And al mi brain is overtorned,

And mi manere so mistorned, 130

P. iii. 6

That I foryete al that I can

And stonde lich a mased man;

That ofte, whanne I scholde pleie,

It makth me drawe out of the weie

In soulein place be miselve,

As doth a labourer to delve,

Which can no gentil mannes chere;

[Pg 171]

Or elles as a lewed Frere,

Whan he is put to his penance,

Riht so lese I mi contienance. 140

And if it nedes so betyde,

That I in compainie abyde,

Wher as I moste daunce and singe

The hovedance and carolinge,

Or forto go the newefot,713

I mai noght wel heve up mi fot,

If that sche be noght in the weie;

For thanne is al mi merthe aweie,

And waxe anon of thoght so full,

Wherof mi limes ben so dull, 150

I mai unethes gon the pas.714

For thus it is and evere was,715

Whanne I on suche thoghtes muse,

The lust and merthe that men use,

Whan I se noght mi ladi byme,

Al is foryete for the time

So ferforth that mi wittes changen

And alle lustes fro me strangen,

That thei seie alle trewely,

And swere, that it am noght I.716 160

P. iii. 7

For as the man which ofte drinketh,

With win that in his stomac sinketh717

Wext drunke and witles for a throwe,

Riht so mi lust is overthrowe,

And of myn oghne thoght so mat

I wexe, that to myn astat

Ther is no lime wol me serve,

Bot as a drunke man I swerve,

And suffre such a Passion,

That men have gret compassion, 170

And everich be himself merveilleth

What thing it is that me so eilleth.718

Such is the manere of mi wo

Which time that I am hire fro,

[Pg 172]

Til eft ayein that I hire se.

Bot thanne it were a nycete

To telle you hou that I fare:

For whanne I mai upon hire stare,

Hire wommanhede, hire gentilesse,

Myn herte is full of such gladnesse, 180

That overpasseth so mi wit,

That I wot nevere where it sit,

Bot am so drunken of that sihte,

Me thenkth that for the time I mihte

Riht sterte thurgh the hole wall;

And thanne I mai wel, if I schal,

Bothe singe and daunce and lepe aboute,

And holde forth the lusti route.

Bot natheles it falleth so

Fulofte, that I fro hire go 190

P. iii. 8

Ne mai, bot as it were a stake,

I stonde avisement to take

And loke upon hire faire face;

That for the while out of the place

For al the world ne myhte I wende.

Such lust comth thanne into mi mende,

So that withoute mete or drinke,719

Of lusti thoughtes whiche I thinke

Me thenkth I mihte stonden evere;

And so it were to me levere 200

Than such a sihte forto leve,

If that sche wolde yif me leve720

To have so mochel of mi wille.

And thus thenkende I stonde stille

Withoute blenchinge of myn yhe,

Riht as me thoghte that I syhe

Of Paradis the moste joie:

And so therwhile I me rejoie,

Into myn herte a gret desir,721

The which is hotere than the fyr, 210

Al soudeinliche upon me renneth,

That al mi thoght withinne brenneth,

[Pg 173]

And am so ferforth overcome,

That I not where I am become;

So that among the hetes stronge722

In stede of drinke I underfonge

A thoght so swete in mi corage,

That nevere Pyment ne vernage

Was half so swete forto drinke.

For as I wolde, thanne I thinke 220

P. iii. 9

As thogh I were at myn above,

For so thurgh drunke I am of love,

That al that mi sotye demeth

Is soth, as thanne it to me semeth.

And whyle I mai tho thoghtes kepe,

Me thenkth as thogh I were aslepe

And that I were in goddes barm;

Bot whanne I se myn oghne harm,

And that I soudeinliche awake

Out of my thought, and hiede take 230

Hou that the sothe stant in dede,

Thanne is mi sekernesse in drede

And joie torned into wo,

So that the hete is al ago

Of such sotie as I was inne.723

And thanne ayeinward I beginne

To take of love a newe thorst,

The which me grieveth altherworst,

For thanne comth the blanche fievere,

With chele and makth me so to chievere, 240

And so it coldeth at myn herte,724

That wonder is hou I asterte,725

In such a point that I ne deie:

For certes ther was nevere keie

Ne frosen ys upon the wal

More inly cold than I am al.

And thus soffre I the hote chele,

Which passeth othre peines fele;

In cold I brenne and frese in hete:

And thanne I drinke a biter swete250

P. iii. 10

[Pg 174]With dreie lippe and yhen wete.

Lo, thus I tempre mi diete,

And take a drauhte of such reles,

That al mi wit is herteles,

And al myn herte, ther it sit,

Is, as who seith, withoute wit;

So that to prove it be reson

In makinge of comparison

Ther mai no difference be

Betwen a drunke man and me. 260

Bot al the worste of everychon

Is evere that I thurste in on;726

The more that myn herte drinketh,

The more I may; so that me thinketh,

My thurst schal nevere ben aqueint.

God schilde that I be noght dreint

Of such a superfluite:

For wel I fiele in mi degre

That al mi wit is overcast,

Wherof I am the more agast, 270

That in defaulte of ladischipe

Per chance in such a drunkeschipe

I mai be ded er I be war.

For certes, fader, this I dar

Beknowe and in mi schrifte telle:

Bot I a drauhte have of that welle,

In which mi deth is and mi lif,

Mi joie is torned into strif,

That sobre schal I nevere worthe,

Bot as a drunke man forworthe; 280

P. iii. 11

So that in londe where I fare727

The lust is lore of mi welfare,

As he that mai no bote finde.

Bot this me thenkth a wonder kinde,

As I am drunke of that I drinke,728

So am I ek for falte of drinke;

Of which I finde no reles:

Bot if I myhte natheles

[Pg 175]

Of such a drinke as I coveite,

So as me liste, have o receite, 290

I scholde assobre and fare wel.

Bot so fortune upon hire whiel

On hih me deigneth noght to sette,

For everemore I finde a lette:

The boteler is noght mi frend,

Which hath the keie be the bend;

I mai wel wisshe and that is wast,729

For wel I wot, so freissh a tast,

Bot if mi grace be the more,

I schal assaie neveremore. 300

Thus am I drunke of that I se,

For tastinge is defended me,

And I can noght miselven stanche:

So that, mi fader, of this branche

I am gultif, to telle trouthe.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, that me thenketh routhe;

For lovedrunke is the meschief

Above alle othre the most chief,

If he no lusti thoght assaie,

Which mai his sori thurst allaie: 310

P. iii. 12

As for the time yit it lisseth

To him which other joie misseth.

Forthi, mi Sone, aboven alle

Thenk wel, hou so it the befalle,

And kep thi wittes that thou hast,

And let hem noght be drunke in wast:

Bot natheles ther is no wyht

That mai withstonde loves miht.

Bot why the cause is, as I finde,

Of that ther is diverse kinde 320

Of lovedrunke, why men pleigneth

After the court which al ordeigneth,

I wol the tellen the manere;

Nou lest, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere.

[Jupiter’s Two Tuns.]

For the fortune of every chance

After the goddes pourveance

Hic narrat secundum Poetam, qualiter in suo celario Iupiter duo dolea habet, quorum primum liquoris dulcissimi, secundum amarissimi plenum consistit, ita quod ille cui fatata est prosperitas de dulci potabit, alter vero, cui aduersabitur, poculum gustabit amaram.

To man it groweth from above,

[Pg 176]

So that the sped of every love

Is schape there, er it befalle.730

For Jupiter aboven alle, 330

Which is of goddes soverein,

Hath in his celier, as men sein,

Tuo tonnes fulle of love drinke,

That maken many an herte sinke

And many an herte also to flete,

Or of the soure or of the swete.

That on is full of such piment,

Which passeth all entendement

Of mannes witt, if he it taste,731

And makth a jolif herte in haste: 340

P. iii. 13

That other biter as the galle,

Which makth a mannes herte palle,

Whos drunkeschipe is a sieknesse

Thurgh fielinge of the biternesse.

Cupide is boteler of bothe,

Which to the lieve and to the lothe

Yifth of the swete and of the soure,

That some lawhe, and some loure.

But for so moche as he blind is,

Fulofte time he goth amis 350

And takth the badde for the goode,

Which hindreth many a mannes fode

Withoute cause, and forthreth eke.

So be ther some of love seke,732

Whiche oghte of reson to ben hole,

And some comen to the dole

In happ and as hemselve leste733

Drinke undeserved of the beste.734

And thus this blinde Boteler

Yifth of the trouble in stede of cler 360

And ek the cler in stede of trouble:

Lo, hou he can the hertes trouble,

And makth men drunke al upon chaunce735

[Pg 177]

Withoute lawe of governance.

If he drawe of the swete tonne,

Thanne is the sorwe al overronne

Of lovedrunke, and schalt noght greven736

So to be drunken every even,

For al is thanne bot a game.

Bot whanne it is noght of the same, 370

P. iii. 14

And he the biter tonne draweth,

Such drunkeschipe an herte gnaweth

And fiebleth al a mannes thoght,

That betre him were have drunke noght

And al his bred have eten dreie;

For thanne he lest his lusti weie737

With drunkeschipe, and wot noght whider

To go, the weies ben so slider,

In which he mai per cas so falle,738

That he schal breke his wittes alle. 380

And in this wise men be drunke

After the drink that thei have drunke:739

Bot alle drinken noght alike,

For som schal singe and som schal syke,

So that it me nothing merveilleth,

Mi Sone, of love that thee eilleth;

For wel I knowe be thi tale,740

That thou hast drunken of the duale,

Which biter is, til god the sende

Such grace that thou miht amende. 390

[Prayer. Bacchus in the Desert.]

Bot, Sone, thou schalt bidde and preie

In such a wise as I schal seie,

That thou the lusti welle atteigne

Thi wofull thurstes to restreigne

Of love, and taste the swetnesse;

As Bachus dede in his distresse,

Whan bodiliche thurst him hente

Nota hic qualiter potus aliquando sicienti precibus adquiritur. Et narrat in exemplum quod, cum Bachus de quodam bello ab oriente repatrians in quibusdam Lubie partibus alicuius generis potum non inuenit, fusis ad Iouem precibus, apparuit ei Aries, qui terram pede percussit,742 statimque fons emanauit; et sic potum petenti peticio preualuit.

In strange londes where he wente.

This Bachus Sone of Jupiter

[Pg 178]

Was hote, and as he wente fer 400

P. iii. 15

Be his fadres assignement

To make a werre in Orient,

And gret pouer with him he ladde,

So that the heiere hond he hadde

And victoire of his enemys,

And torneth homward with his pris,

In such a contre which was dreie

A meschief fell upon the weie.741

As he rod with his compainie

Nyh to the strondes of Lubie, 410

Ther myhte thei no drinke finde

Of water nor of other kinde,

So that himself and al his host

Were of defalte of drinke almost743

Destruid, and thanne Bachus preide

To Jupiter, and thus he seide:

‘O hihe fader, that sest al,

To whom is reson that I schal

Beseche and preie in every nede,

Behold, mi fader, and tak hiede 420

This wofull thurst that we ben inne744

To staunche, and grante ous forto winne,

And sauf unto the contre fare,

Wher that oure lusti loves are

Waitende upon oure hom cominge.’

And with the vois of his preiynge,

Which herd was to the goddes hihe,

He syh anon tofore his yhe

A wether, which the ground hath sporned;

And wher he hath it overtorned, 430

P. iii. 16

Ther sprang a welle freissh and cler,

Wherof his oghne boteler

After the lustes of his wille

Was every man to drinke his fille.745

And for this ilke grete grace

Bachus upon the same place

[Pg 179]

A riche temple let arere,

Which evere scholde stonde there

To thursti men in remembrance.

Confessor.

Forthi, mi Sone, after this chance 440

It sit thee wel to taken hiede

So forto preie upon thi nede,746

As Bachus preide for the welle;

And thenk, as thou hast herd me telle,

Hou grace he gradde and grace he hadde.

He was no fol that ferst so radde,

For selden get a domb man lond:

Tak that proverbe, and understond

That wordes ben of vertu grete.

Forthi to speke thou ne lete, 450

And axe and prei erli and late

Thi thurst to quenche, and thenk algate,

The boteler which berth the keie

Is blind, as thou hast herd me seie;

And if it mihte so betyde,

That he upon the blinde side

Per cas the swete tonne arauhte,

Than schalt thou have a lusti drauhte

And waxe of lovedrunke sobre.

And thus I rede thou assobre 460

P. iii. 17

Thin herte in hope of such a grace;

For drunkeschipe in every place,

To whether side that it torne,747

Doth harm and makth a man to sporne

And ofte falle in such a wise,

Wher he per cas mai noght arise.

[Love-Drunkenness. Tristram.]

And forto loke in evidence

Upon the sothe experience,

Hic de amoris ebrietate ponit exemplum, qualiter Tristrans ob potum,749 quem Brangweyne in naui ei porrexit, de amore Bele Isolde inebriatus extitit.

So as it hath befalle er this,748

In every mannes mouth it is 470

Hou Tristram was of love drunke

With Bele Ysolde, whan thei drunke

The drink which Brangwein hem betok,

Er that king Marc his Eem hire tok

[Pg 180]

To wyve, as it was after knowe.

And ek, mi Sone, if thou wolt knowe,

As it hath fallen overmore

In loves cause, and what is more

Of drunkeschipe forto drede,

As it whilom befell in dede, 480

Wherof thou miht the betre eschuie

Of drunke men that thou ne suie

The compaignie in no manere,

A gret ensample thou schalt hiere.

[Marriage of Pirithous.]

This finde I write in Poesie

Of thilke faire Ipotacie,

Hic de periculis ebrietatis causa in amore contingentibus750 narrat quod, cum Pirothous illam pulcherimam Ypotaciam in vxorem duceret, quosdam qui Centauri vocabantur inter alios vicinos ad nupcias inuitauit; qui vino imbuti, noue nupte formositatem aspicientes, duplici ebrietate insanierunt, ita quod ipsi subito salientes a mensa Ipotaciam a Pirothoo marito suo in752 impetu rapuerunt.

Of whos beaute ther as sche was

Spak every man,—and fell per cas,

That Pirotoüs so him spedde,

That he to wyve hire scholde wedde, 490

P. iii. 18

Wherof that he gret joie made.

And for he wolde his love glade,

Ayein the day of mariage

Be mouthe bothe and be message

Hise frendes to the feste he preide,751

With gret worschipe and, as men seide,

He hath this yonge ladi spoused.

And whan that thei were alle housed,

And set and served ate mete,

Ther was no wyn which mai be gete,753 500

That ther ne was plente ynouh:

Bot Bachus thilke tonne drouh,

Wherof be weie of drunkeschipe

The greteste of the felaschipe

Were oute of reson overtake;

And Venus, which hath also take

The cause most in special,

Hath yove hem drinke forth withal754

Of thilke cuppe which exciteth

The lust wherinne a man deliteth: 510

And thus be double weie drunke,[Pg 181]

Of lust that ilke fyri funke

Hath mad hem, as who seith, halfwode,755

That thei no reson understode,

Ne to non other thing thei syhen,

Bot hire, which tofore here yhen

Was wedded thilke same day,

That freisshe wif, that lusti May,

On hire it was al that thei thoghten.756

And so ferforth here lustes soghten, 520

P. iii. 19

That thei the whiche named were

Centauri, ate feste there

Of on assent, of on acord

This yonge wif malgre hire lord

In such a rage awei forth ladden,

As thei whiche non insihte hadden

Bot only to her drunke fare,

Which many a man hath mad misfare

In love als wel as other weie.

Wherof, if I schal more seie 530

Upon the nature of the vice,757

Of custume and of excercice

The mannes grace hou it fordoth,

A tale, which was whilom soth,

Of fooles that so drunken were,

I schal reherce unto thine Ere.

[Galba and Vitellius.]

I rede in a Cronique thus

Of Galba and of Vitellus,

Hic loquitur specialiter contra vicium illorum, qui nimia potacione quasi ex consuetudine ebriosi efficiuntur. Et narrat exemplum de Galba et Vitello, qui potentes in Hispania principes fuerunt, set ipsi cotidiane ebrietatis potibus assueti, tanta vicinis intulerunt enormia, quod tandem760 toto conclamante populo pena sentencie capitalis in eos iudicialiter diffinita est: qui priusquam morerentur, vt penam mortis alleuiarent, spontanea vini ebrietate sopiti, quasi porci semimortui gladio interierunt.758

The whiche of Spaigne bothe were

The greteste of alle othre there, 540

And bothe of o condicion

After the disposicion

Of glotonie and drunkeschipe.759

That was a sori felaschipe:

For this thou miht wel understonde,

That man mai wel noght longe stonde

Which is wyndrunke of comun us;

[Pg 182]

For he hath lore the vertus,

Wherof reson him scholde clothe;

And that was seene upon hem bothe. 550

P. iii. 20

Men sein ther is non evidence,

Wherof to knowe a difference

Betwen the drunken and the wode,

For thei be nevere nouther goode;761

For wher that wyn doth wit aweie,

Wisdom hath lost the rihte weie,

That he no maner vice dredeth;

Nomore than a blind man thredeth

His nedle be the Sonnes lyht,762

Nomore is reson thanne of myht, 560

Whan he with drunkeschipe is blent.

And in this point thei weren schent,

This Galba bothe and ek Vitelle,

Upon the cause as I schal telle,

Wherof good is to taken hiede.

For thei tuo thurgh her drunkenhiede

Of witles excitacioun

Oppressede al the nacion

Of Spaigne; for of fool usance,763

Which don was of continuance 570

Of hem, whiche alday drunken were,

Ther was no wif ne maiden there,

What so thei were, or faire or foule,

Whom thei ne token to defoule,

Wherof the lond was often wo:

And ek in othre thinges mo

Thei wroghten many a sondri wrong.

Bot hou so that the dai be long,

The derke nyht comth ate laste:

God wolde noght thei scholden laste, 580

P. iii. 21

And schop the lawe in such a wise,

That thei thurgh dom to the juise

Be dampned forto be forlore.

[Pg 183]

Bot thei, that hadden ben tofore

Enclin to alle drunkenesse,—

Here ende thanne bar witnesse;

For thei in hope to assuage

The peine of deth, upon the rage

That thei the lasse scholden fiele,

Of wyn let fille full a Miele,764 590

And dronken til so was befalle

That thei her strengthes losten alle

Withouten wit of eny brain;

And thus thei ben halfdede slain,

That hem ne grieveth bot a lyte.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, if thou be forto wyte

In eny point which I have seid,

Wherof thi wittes ben unteid,

I rede clepe hem hom ayein.765

Amans.

I schal do, fader, as ye sein, 600

Als ferforth as I mai suffise:

Bot wel I wot that in no wise

The drunkeschipe of love aweie

I mai remue be no weie,

It stant noght upon my fortune.

Bot if you liste to comune

Of the seconde Glotonie,

Which cleped is Delicacie,

Wherof ye spieken hier tofore,

Beseche I wolde you therfore. 610

Confessor.

P. iii. 22

Mi Sone, as of that ilke vice,

Which of alle othre is the Norrice,

And stant upon the retenue

Of Venus, so as it is due,

The proprete hou that it fareth

The bok hierafter nou declareth.

[Delicacy.]

ii. Delicie cum diuiciis sunt iura potentum,

In quibus orta Venus excitat ora gule.

Non sunt delicie tales, que corpora pascunt,

Ex quibus impletus gaudia venter agit,

[Pg 184]

Quin completus amor maiori munere gaudet,

Cum data deliciis mens in amante satur.766

Of this chapitre in which we trete

There is yit on of such diete,

Hic tractat super illa specie Gule que Delicacia nuncupatur, cuius mollicies767 voluptuose carni in personis precipue potentibus queque768 complacencia corporaliter ministrat.

To which no povere mai atteigne;

For al is Past of paindemeine769 620

And sondri wyn and sondri drinke,

Wherof that he wole ete and drinke:

Hise cokes ben for him affaited,

So that his body is awaited,

That him schal lacke no delit,

Als ferforth as his appetit

Sufficeth to the metes hote.

Wherof this lusti vice is hote

Of Gule the Delicacie,

Which al the hole progenie 630

Of lusti folk hath undertake

To feede, whil that he mai take

Richesses wherof to be founde:770

Of Abstinence he wot no bounde,

To what profit it scholde serve.

And yit phisique of his conserve

P. iii. 23

Makth many a restauracioun

Unto his recreacioun,

Which wolde be to Venus lief.

Thus for the point of his relief 640

The coc which schal his mete arraie,

Bot he the betre his mouth assaie,

His lordes thonk schal ofte lese,

Er he be served to the chese:

For ther mai lacke noght so lyte,

That he ne fint anon a wyte;

For bot his lust be fully served,771

Ther hath no wiht his thonk deserved.

And yit for mannes sustenance,

To kepe and holde in governance, 650

To him that wole his hele gete[Pg 185]

Is non so good as comun mete:

For who that loketh on the bokes,772

It seith, confeccion of cokes,

A man him scholde wel avise

Hou he it toke and in what wise.

For who that useth that he knoweth,

Ful selden seknesse on him groweth,

And who that useth metes strange,

Though his nature empeire and change 660

It is no wonder, lieve Sone,

Whan that he doth ayein his wone;

Philosophus. Consuetudo est altera natura.

For in Phisique this I finde,

Usage is the seconde kinde.773

P. iii. 24

[Love-Delicacy.]

And riht so changeth his astat774

He that of love is delicat:

For though he hadde to his hond

The beste wif of al the lond,

Or the faireste love of alle,

Yit wolde his herte on othre falle 670

And thenke hem mor delicious

Than he hath in his oghne hous:

Men sein it is nou ofte so;775

Avise hem wel, thei that so do.

And forto speke in other weie,

Fulofte time I have herd seie,

That he which hath no love achieved,

Him thenkth that he is noght relieved,

Thogh that his ladi make him chiere,

So as sche mai in good manere 680

Hir honour and hir name save,776

Bot he the surplus mihte have.

Nothing withstondende hire astat,

Of love more delicat

He set hire chiere at no delit,

[Pg 186]

Bot he have al his appetit.777

Mi Sone, if it be with thee so,

Tell me.

Confessio Amantis.

Myn holi fader, no:

For delicat in such a wise

Of love, as ye to me devise, 690

Ne was I nevere yit gultif;

For if I hadde such a wif

As ye speke of, what scholde I more?

For thanne I wolde neveremore

P. iii. 25

For lust of eny wommanhiede

Myn herte upon non other fiede:

And if I dede, it were a wast.

Bot al withoute such repast

Of lust, as ye me tolde above,

Of wif, or yit of other love, 700

I faste, and mai no fode gete;

So that for lacke of deinte mete,

Of which an herte mai be fedd,

I go fastende to my bedd.

Bot myhte I geten, as ye tolde,

So mochel that mi ladi wolde

Me fede with hir glad semblant,

Though me lacke al the remenant,

Yit scholde I somdel ben abeched

And for the time wel refreched. 710

Bot certes, fader, sche ne doth;

For in good feith, to telle soth,

I trowe, thogh I scholde sterve,

Sche wolde noght hire yhe swerve,

Min herte with o goodly lok778

To fede, and thus for such a cok

I mai go fastinge everemo:

Bot if so is that eny wo

Mai fede a mannes herte wel,

Therof I have at every meel 720

Of plente more than ynowh;

Bot that is of himself so towh,

[Pg 187]

Mi stomac mai it noght defie.

Lo, such is the delicacie

P. iii. 26

Of love, which myn herte fedeth;

Thus have I lacke of that me nedeth.

Bot for al this yit natheles

I seie noght I am gylteles,

That I somdel am delicat:

For elles were I fulli mat, 730

Bot if that I som lusti stounde

Of confort and of ese founde,

To take of love som repast;

For thogh I with the fulle tast779

The lust of love mai noght fiele,

Min hunger otherwise I kiele

Of smale lustes whiche I pike,

And for a time yit thei like;

If that ye wisten what I mene.

Confessor.

Nou, goode Sone, schrif thee clene 740

Of suche deyntes as ben goode,

Wherof thou takst thin hertes fode.

Confessio Amantis.

Mi fader, I you schal reherce,

Hou that mi fodes ben diverse,

So as thei fallen in degre.

O fiedinge is of that I se,780

An other is of that I here,

The thridde, as I schal tellen here,

It groweth of min oghne thoght:

And elles scholde I live noght; 750

For whom that failleth fode of herte,781

He mai noght wel the deth asterte.

Of sihte is al mi ferste fode,

Nota qualiter visus in amore se continet delicatus.

Thurgh which myn yhe of alle goode

P. iii. 27

Hath that to him is acordant,

A lusti fode sufficant.

Whan that I go toward the place

Wher I schal se my ladi face,

Min yhe, which is loth to faste,

Beginth to hungre anon so faste, 760

That him thenkth of on houre thre,[Pg 188]

Til I ther come and he hire se:782

And thanne after his appetit

He takth a fode of such delit,

That him non other deynte nedeth.

Of sondri sihtes he him fedeth:

He seth hire face of such colour,

That freisshere is than eny flour,

He seth hire front is large and plein

Withoute fronce of eny grein, 770

He seth hire yhen lich an hevene,

He seth hire nase strauht and evene,

He seth hire rode upon the cheke,

He seth hire rede lippes eke,

Hire chyn acordeth to the face,

Al that he seth is full of grace,

He seth hire necke round and clene,

Therinne mai no bon be sene,

He seth hire handes faire and whyte;

For al this thing without wyte 780

He mai se naked ate leste,

So is it wel the more feste

And wel the mor Delicacie

Unto the fiedinge of myn yhe.783

P. iii. 28

He seth hire schapthe forth withal,784

Hire bodi round, hire middel smal,

So wel begon with good array,

Which passeth al the lust of Maii,

Whan he is most with softe schoures

Ful clothed in his lusti floures. 790

With suche sihtes by and by

Min yhe is fed; bot finaly,

Whan he the port and the manere

Seth of hire wommanysshe chere,

Than hath he such delice on honde,

Him thenkth he mihte stille stonde,

And that he hath ful sufficance

Of liflode and of sustienance

[Pg 189]

As to his part for everemo.

And if it thoghte alle othre so, 800

Fro thenne wolde he nevere wende,

Bot there unto the worldes ende

He wolde abyde, if that he mihte,

And fieden him upon the syhte.

For thogh I mihte stonden ay

Into the time of domesday

And loke upon hire evere in on,

Yit whanne I scholde fro hire gon,

Min yhe wolde, as thogh he faste,

Ben hungerstorven al so faste, 810

Til efte ayein that he hire syhe.

Such is the nature of myn yhe:

Ther is no lust so deintefull,

Of which a man schal noght be full,

P. iii. 29

Of that the stomac underfongeth,

Bot evere in on myn yhe longeth:

For loke hou that a goshauk tireth,

Riht so doth he, whan that he pireth

And toteth on hire wommanhiede;

For he mai nevere fulli fiede 820

His lust, bot evere aliche sore

Him hungreth, so that he the more

Desireth to be fed algate:

And thus myn yhe is mad the gate,

Thurgh which the deyntes of my thoght

Of lust ben to myn herte broght.

Riht as myn yhe with his lok785

Is to myn herte a lusti coc

Of loves fode delicat,

Qualiter auris in amore delectatur.

Riht so myn Ere in his astat, 830

Wher as myn yhe mai noght serve,

Can wel myn hertes thonk deserve

And fieden him fro day to day

With suche deyntes as he may.

For thus it is, that overal,

Wher as I come in special,

I mai hiere of mi ladi pris;

[Pg 190]

I hiere on seith that sche is wys,786

An other seith that sche is good,

And som men sein, of worthi blod 840

That sche is come, and is also787

So fair, that nawher is non so;

And som men preise hire goodli chiere:

Thus every thing that I mai hiere,

P. iii. 30

Which souneth to mi ladi goode,

Is to myn Ere a lusti foode.

And ek min Ere hath over this

A deynte feste, whan so is

That I mai hiere hirselve speke;

For thanne anon mi faste I breke 850

On suche wordes as sche seith,

That full of trouthe and full of feith

Thei ben, and of so good desport,

That to myn Ere gret confort

Thei don, as thei that ben delices.

For al the metes and the spices,788

That eyn Lombard couthe make,

Ne be so lusti forto take

Ne so ferforth restauratif,

I seie as for myn oghne lif, 860

As ben the wordes of hire mouth:

For as the wyndes of the South

Ben most of alle debonaire,

So whan hir list to speke faire,

The vertu of hire goodly speche

Is verraily myn hertes leche.

And if it so befalle among,

That sche carole upon a song,

Whan I it hiere I am so fedd,

That I am fro miself so ledd, 870

As thogh I were in paradis;

For certes, as to myn avis,

Whan I here of hir vois the stevene,

Me thenkth it is a blisse of hevene.

P. iii. 31

And ek in other wise also

[Pg 191]

Fulofte time it falleth so,

Min Ere with a good pitance

Is fedd of redinge of romance

Of Ydoine and of Amadas,

That whilom weren in mi cas, 880

And eke of othre many a score,

That loveden longe er I was bore.

For whan I of here loves rede,

Min Ere with the tale I fede;

And with the lust of here histoire

Somtime I drawe into memoire

Hou sorwe mai noght evere laste;

And so comth hope in ate laste,

Whan I non other fode knowe.

And that endureth bot a throwe, 890

Riht as it were a cherie feste;

Bot forto compten ate leste,789

As for the while yit it eseth

And somdel of myn herte appeseth:

For what thing to myn Ere spreedeth,

Which is plesant, somdel it feedeth

With wordes suche as he mai gete

Mi lust, in stede of other mete.

Amans.

Lo thus, mi fader, as I seie,790

Of lust the which myn yhe hath seie, 900

And ek of that myn Ere hath herd,

Fulofte I have the betre ferd.

And tho tuo bringen in the thridde,

The which hath in myn herte amidde

P. iii. 32

His place take, to arraie

The lusti fode, which assaie791

I mot; and nameliche on nyhtes,

Whan that me lacketh alle sihtes,

And that myn heringe is aweie,

Thanne is he redy in the weie 910

Mi reresouper forto make,

Of which myn hertes fode I take.

This lusti cokes name is hote

[Pg 192]

Thoght, which hath evere hise pottes hote

Qualiter cogitatus impressiones leticie ymaginatiuas cordibus inserit amantum.

Of love buillende on the fyr

With fantasie and with desir,

Of whiche er this fulofte he fedde

Min herte, whanne I was abedde;

And thanne he set upon my bord

Bothe every syhte and every word 920

Of lust, which I have herd or sein.

Bot yit is noght mi feste al plein,

Bot al of woldes and of wisshes,

Therof have I my fulle disshes,

Bot as of fielinge and of tast,

Yit mihte I nevere have o repast.

And thus, as I have seid aforn,792

I licke hony on the thorn,793

And as who seith, upon the bridel

I chiewe, so that al is ydel 930

As in effect the fode I have.

Bot as a man that wolde him save,

Whan he is sek, be medicine,

Riht so of love the famine

P. iii. 33

I fonde in al that evere I mai

To fiede and dryve forth the day,

Til I mai have the grete feste,

Which al myn hunger myhte areste.

Lo suche ben mi lustes thre;

Of that I thenke and hiere and se 940

I take of love my fiedinge

Withoute tastinge or fielinge:

And as the Plover doth of Eir

I live, and am in good espeir

That for no such delicacie

I trowe I do no glotonie.794

And natheles to youre avis,

Min holi fader, that be wis,

I recomande myn astat

Of that I have be delicat. 950

Confessor.

Mi Sone, I understonde wel

[Pg 193]

That thou hast told hier everydel,

And as me thenketh be thi tale,

It ben delices wonder smale,

Wherof thou takst thi loves fode.

Bot, Sone, if that thou understode

What is to ben delicious,

Thou woldest noght be curious

Upon the lust of thin astat

To ben to sore delicat, 960

Wherof that thou reson excede:

For in the bokes thou myht rede,

If mannes wisdom schal be suied,

It oghte wel to ben eschuied795

P. iii. 34

In love als wel as other weie;

[Delicacy.]

For, as these holi bokes seie,

Delicie corporis militant aduersus animam.

The bodely delices alle

In every point, hou so thei falle,

Unto the Soule don grievance.

And forto take in remembrance, 970

A tale acordant unto this,

Which of gret understondinge is

To mannes soule resonable,796

I thenke telle, and is no fable.

[Dives and Lazarus.]

Of Cristes word, who wole it rede,

Hou that this vice is forto drede

Hic ponit exemplum contra istos delicatos. Et narrat de diuite et Lazaro, quorum gestus797 in euangelio Lucas euidencius describit.

In thevangile it telleth plein,

Which mot algate be certein,

For Crist himself it berth witnesse.

And thogh the clerk and the clergesse 980

In latin tunge it rede and singe,

Yit for the more knoulechinge

Of trouthe, which is good to wite,

I schal declare as it is write

In Engleissh, for thus it began.

Crist seith: ‘Ther was a riche man,

A mihti lord of gret astat,

And he was ek so delicat798

Of his clothing, that everyday

Of pourpre and bisse he made him gay, 990[Pg 194]

And eet and drank therto his fille

After the lustes of his wille,

As he which al stod in delice799

And tok non hiede of thilke vice.

P. iii. 35

And as it scholde so betyde,

A povere lazre upon a tyde

Cam to the gate and axed mete:

Bot there mihte he nothing gete800

His dedly hunger forto stanche;

For he, which hadde his fulle panche 1000

Of alle lustes ate bord,

Ne deigneth noght to speke a word,

Onliche a Crumme forto yive,

Wherof the povere myhte live801

Upon the yifte of his almesse.

Thus lai this povere in gret destresse802

Acold and hungred ate gate,

Fro which he mihte go no gate,803

So was he wofulli besein.

And as these holi bokes sein,804 1010

The houndes comen fro the halle,

Wher that this sike man was falle,

And as he lay ther forto die,

The woundes of his maladie

Thei licken forto don him ese.

Bot he was full of such desese,

That he mai noght the deth eschape;

Bot as it was that time schape,

The Soule fro the bodi passeth,

And he whom nothing overpasseth, 1020

The hihe god, up to the hevene

Him tok, wher he hath set him evene

In Habrahammes barm on hyh,805

Wher he the hevene joie syh

[Pg 195]

P. iii. 36

And hadde al that he have wolde.

And fell, as it befalle scholde,

This riche man the same throwe806

With soudein deth was overthrowe,

And forth withouten eny wente

Into the helle straght he wente;807 1030

The fend into the fyr him drouh,

Wher that he hadde peine ynouh

Of flamme which that evere brenneth.

And as his yhe aboute renneth,

Toward the hevene he cast his lok,

Wher that he syh and hiede tok

Hou Lazar set was in his Se

Als ferr as evere he mihte se

With Habraham; and thanne he preide

Unto the Patriarch and seide: 1040

“Send Lazar doun fro thilke Sete,

And do that he his finger wete

In water, so that he mai droppe

Upon my tunge, forto stoppe

The grete hete in which I brenne.”

Bot Habraham answerde thenne

And seide to him in this wise:

“Mi Sone, thou thee miht avise808

And take into thi remembrance,

Hou Lazar hadde gret penance, 1050

Whyl he was in that other lif,

Bot thou in al thi lust jolif

The bodily delices soghtest:

Forthi, so as thou thanne wroghtest,

P. iii. 37

Nou schalt thou take thi reward

Of dedly peine hierafterward

In helle, which schal evere laste;

And this Lazar nou ate laste

The worldes peine is overronne,

In hevene and hath his lif begonne 1060

Of joie, which is endeles.

[Pg 196]

Bot that thou preidest natheles,

That I schal Lazar to the sende

With water on his finger ende,

Thin hote tunge forto kiele,

Thou schalt no suche graces fiele;

For to that foule place of Sinne,

For evere in which thou schalt ben inne,

Comth non out of this place thider,

Ne non of you mai comen hider; 1070

Thus be yee parted nou atuo.”

The riche ayeinward cride tho:

“O Habraham, sithe it so is,

That Lazar mai noght do me this

Which I have axed in this place,

I wolde preie an other grace.

For I have yit of brethren fyve,

That with mi fader ben alyve

Togedre duellende in on hous;

To whom, as thou art gracious, 1080

I preie that thou woldest sende

Lazar, so that he mihte wende

To warne hem hou the world is went,

That afterward thei be noght schent

P. iii. 38

Of suche peines as I drye.809

Lo, this I preie and this I crie,

Now I may noght miself amende.”

The Patriarch anon suiende

To his preiere ansuerde nay;810

And seide him hou that everyday 1090

His brethren mihten knowe and hiere

Of Moïses on Erthe hiere

And of prophetes othre mo,

What hem was best. And he seith no;

Bot if ther mihte a man aryse

Fro deth to lyve in such a wise,

To tellen hem hou that it were,

He seide hou thanne of pure fere811

Thei scholden wel be war therby.

[Pg 197]

Quod Habraham: “Nay sikerly;812 1100

For if thei nou wol noght obeie

To suche as techen hem the weie,

And alday preche and alday telle

Hou that it stant of hevene and helle,

Thei wol noght thanne taken hiede,813

Thogh it befelle so in dede

That eny ded man were arered,814

To ben of him no betre lered

Than of an other man alyve.”815

Confessor.

If thou, mi Sone, canst descryve 1110

This tale, as Crist himself it tolde,

Thou schalt have cause to beholde,816

To se so gret an evidence,

Wherof the sothe experience

P. iii. 39

Hath schewed openliche at ÿe,

That bodili delicacie

Of him which yeveth non almesse

Schal after falle in gret destresse.

And that was sene upon the riche:

For he ne wolde unto his liche 1120

A Crumme yiven of his bred,

Thanne afterward, whan he was ded,

A drope of water him was werned.

Thus mai a mannes wit be lerned

Of hem that so delices taken;

Whan thei with deth ben overtaken,

That erst was swete is thanne sour.

Bot he that is a governour

Of worldes good, if he be wys,

Withinne his herte he set no pris 1130

Of al the world, and yit he useth

The good, that he nothing refuseth,

As he which lord is of the thinges.

The Nouches and the riche ringes,

The cloth of gold and the Perrie

He takth, and yit delicacie

[Pg 198]

He leveth, thogh he were al this.

The beste mete that ther is

He ett, and drinkth the beste drinke;

Bot hou that evere he ete or drinke, 1140

Delicacie he put aweie,

As he which goth the rihte weie

Noght only forto fiede and clothe

His bodi, bot his soule bothe.

P. iii. 40

Bot thei that taken otherwise

Here lustes, ben none of the wise;817

And that whilom was schewed eke,

If thou these olde bokes seke,

Als wel be reson as be kinde,

Of olde ensample as men mai finde. 1150

[Delicacy of Nero.]

What man that wolde him wel avise,818

Delicacie is to despise,

Hic loquitur de delicacia Neronis, qui corporalibus deliciis magis adherens spiritalia gaudia minus819 obtinuit.

Whan kinde acordeth noght withal;

Wherof ensample in special

Of Nero whilom mai be told,

Which ayein kinde manyfold

Hise lustes tok, til ate laste

That god him wolde al overcaste;

Of whom the Cronique is so plein,

Me list nomore of him to sein. 1160

And natheles for glotonie

Of bodili Delicacie,

To knowe his stomak hou it ferde,

Of that noman tofore herde,

Which he withinne himself bethoghte,

A wonder soubtil thing he wroghte.

Thre men upon eleccioun

[Pg 199]

Of age and of complexioun

Lich to himself be alle weie

He tok towardes him to pleie, 1170

And ete and drinke als wel as he.

Therof was no diversite;

For every day whan that thei eete,

Tofore his oghne bord thei seete,

And of such mete as he was served,

Althogh thei hadde it noght deserved,

P. iii. 41

Thei token service of the same.

Bot afterward al thilke game

Was into wofull ernest torned;

For whan thei weren thus sojorned, 1180

Withinne a time at after mete

Nero, which hadde noght foryete

The lustes of his frele astat,

As he which al was delicat,

To knowe thilke experience,

The men let come in his presence:820

And to that on the same tyde,

A courser that he scholde ryde

Into the feld, anon he bad;

Wherof this man was wonder glad, 1190

And goth to prike and prance aboute.

That other, whil that he was oute,

He leide upon his bedd to slepe:

The thridde, which he wolde kepe

Withinne his chambre, faire and softe

He goth now doun nou up fulofte,

Walkende a pass, that he ne slepte,

Til he which on the courser lepte

Was come fro the field ayein.

Nero thanne, as the bokes sein, 1200

These men doth taken alle thre

And slouh hem, for he wolde se

The whos stomak was best defied:

And whanne he hath the sothe tryed,

He fond that he which goth the pass

Defyed best of alle was,

[Pg 200]

P. iii. 42

Which afterward he usede ay.

And thus what thing unto his pay

Was most plesant, he lefte non:821

With every lust he was begon, 1210

Wherof the bodi myhte glade,

For he non abstinence made;

Bot most above alle erthli thinges

Of wommen unto the likinges

Nero sette al his hole herte,

For that lust scholde him noght asterte.

Whan that the thurst of love him cawhte,

Wher that him list he tok a drauhte,

He spareth nouther wif ne maide,

That such an other, as men saide, 1220

In al this world was nevere yit.

He was so drunke in al his wit

Thurgh sondri lustes whiche he tok,

That evere, whil ther is a bok,

Of Nero men schul rede and singe

Unto the worldes knowlechinge,

Mi goode Sone, as thou hast herd.

[Love-Delicacy.]

For evere yit it hath so ferd,

Delicacie in loves cas

Withoute reson is and was;822 1230

For wher that love his herte set,

Him thenkth it myhte be no bet;

And thogh it be noght fulli mete,823

The lust of love is evere swete.

Confessor.

Lo, thus togedre of felaschipe

Delicacie and drunkeschipe,

P. iii. 43

Wherof reson stant out of herre,

Have mad full many a wisman erre

In loves cause most of alle:

For thanne hou so that evere it falle, 1240

Wit can no reson understonde,

Bot let the governance stonde

To Will, which thanne wext so wylde,

That he can noght himselve schylde

[Pg 201]

Fro no peril, bot out of feere824

The weie he secheth hiere and there,

Him recheth noght upon what syde:

For oftetime he goth beside,

And doth such thing withoute drede,

Wherof him oghte wel to drede. 1250

Bot whan that love assoteth sore,

It passeth alle mennes lore;

What lust it is that he ordeigneth,

Ther is no mannes miht restreigneth,825

And of the godd takth he non hiede:

Bot laweles withoute drede,

His pourpos for he wolde achieve826

Ayeins the pointz of the believe,

He tempteth hevene and erthe and helle,

Hierafterward as I schal telle. 1260

[Sorcery and Witchcraft.]

iii. Dum stimulatur amor, quicquid iubet orta voluptas,

Audet et aggreditur, nulla timenda timens.

Omne quod astra queunt herbarum siue potestas,

Seu vigor inferni, singula temptat amans.

Quod nequit ipse deo mediante parare sinistrum,

Demonis hoc magica credulus arte parat.

Sic sibi non curat ad opus que recia tendit,

Dummodo nudatam prendere possit auem.

P. iii. 44

Who dar do thing which love ne dar?

To love is every lawe unwar,

Hic tractat qualiter Ebrietas et Delicacia omnis pudicicie contrarium instigantes inter alia ad carnalis concupiscencie promocionem Sortilegio827m magicam requirunt.

Bot to the lawes of his heste

The fissch, the foul, the man, the beste

Of al the worldes kinde louteth.

For love is he which nothing douteth;

In mannes herte where he sit,827

He compteth noght toward his wit

The wo nomore than the wele,

No mor the hete than the chele, 1270

No mor the wete than the dreie,

No mor to live than to deie,

[Pg 202]

So that tofore ne behinde

He seth nothing, bot as the blinde

Withoute insyhte of his corage

He doth merveilles in his rage.

To what thing that he wole him drawe,

Ther is no god, ther is no lawe,

Of whom that he takth eny hiede;

Bot as Baiard the blinde stede, 1280

Til he falle in the dich amidde,

He goth ther noman wole him bidde;

He stant so ferforth out of reule,

Ther is no wit that mai him reule.

And thus to telle of him in soth,

Ful many a wonder thing he doth,

That were betre to be laft,

Among the whiche is wicchecraft,

That som men clepen Sorcerie,828

Which forto winne his druerie 1290

P. iii. 45

With many a circumstance he useth,

Ther is no point which he refuseth.

Nota de Auctorum necnon et de829 librorum tam naturalis quam execrabilis magice nominibus.

The craft which that Saturnus fond,

To make prickes in the Sond,830

That Geomance cleped is,

Fulofte he useth it amis;

And of the flod his Ydromance,

And of the fyr the Piromance,

With questions echon of tho

He tempteth ofte, and ek also 1300

Aëremance in juggement

To love he bringth of his assent:

For these craftes, as I finde,

A man mai do be weie of kinde,

Be so it be to good entente.

Bot he goth al an other wente;

For rathere er he scholde faile,

With Nigromance he wole assaile

To make his incantacioun

With hot subfumigacioun. 1310

Thilke art which Spatula is hote,[Pg 203]

And used is of comun rote831

Among Paiens, with that craft ek

Of which is Auctor Thosz the Grek,

He worcheth on and on be rowe:

Razel is noght to him unknowe,

Ne Salomones Candarie,832

His Ydeac, his Eutonye;

The figure and the bok withal833

Of Balamuz, and of Ghenbal834 1320

P. iii. 46

The Seal, and therupon thymage

Of Thebith, for his avantage

He takth, and somwhat of Gibiere,

Which helplich is to this matiere.

Babilla with hire Sones sevene,

Which hath renonced to the hevene,

With Cernes bothe square and rounde,

He traceth ofte upon the grounde,

Makende his invocacioun;

And for full enformacioun 1330

The Scole which Honorius

Wrot, he poursuieth: and lo, thus

Magique he useth forto winne

His love, and spareth for no Sinne.

And over that of his Sotie,

Riht as he secheth Sorcerie

Of hem that ben Magiciens,

Riht so of the Naturiens

Upon the Sterres from above

His weie he secheth unto love, 1340

Als fer as he hem understondeth.

In many a sondry wise he fondeth:

He makth ymage, he makth sculpture,

He makth writinge, he makth figure,

He makth his calculacions,

He makth his demonstracions;

His houres of Astronomie

He kepeth as for that partie

[Pg 204]

Which longeth to thinspeccion

Of love and his affeccion; 1350

P. iii. 47

He wolde into the helle seche

The devel himselve to beseche,

If that he wiste forto spede,

To gete of love his lusti mede:

Wher that he hath his herte set,

He bede nevere fare bet

Ne wite of other hevene more.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, if thou of such a lore

Hast ben er this, I red thee leve.835

Amans.

Min holi fader, be youre leve 1360

Of al that ye have spoken hiere

Which toucheth unto this matiere,

To telle soth riht as I wene,

I wot noght o word what ye mene.

I wol noght seie, if that I couthe,

That I nolde in mi lusti youthe

Benethe in helle and ek above

To winne with mi ladi love

Don al that evere that I mihte;

For therof have I non insihte 1370

Wher afterward that I become,

To that I wonne and overcome

Hire love, which I most coveite.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, that goth wonder streite:

For this I mai wel telle soth,

Ther is noman the which so doth,

For al the craft that he can caste,

That he nabeith it ate laste.

For often he that wol beguile

Is guiled with the same guile, 1380

P. iii. 48

And thus the guilour is beguiled;

As I finde in a bok compiled

To this matiere an old histoire,

The which comth nou to mi memoire,

And is of gret essamplerie

Ayein the vice of Sorcerie,

Wherof non ende mai be good.

[Pg 205]

Bot hou whilom therof it stod,836

A tale which is good to knowe

To thee, mi Sone, I schal beknowe. 1390

[Tale of Ulysses and Telegonus.]

Among hem whiche at Troie were,837

Uluxes ate Siege there

Nota contra istos ob amoris causam sortilegos; vbi narrat in exemplum quod, cum Vluxes a subuersione Troie repatriare nauigio voluisset, ipsum in Insula Cilly, vbi illa expertissima maga nomine Circes regnauit, contigit applicuisse: quem vt in sui amoris concupiscenciam exardesceret, Circes omnibus suis incantacionibus vincere conabatur. Vluxes tamen magica potencior ipsam in amore subegit, ex qua filium nomine Thelogonum genuit, qui postea patrem suum interfecit: et sic contra fidei naturam genitus contra generacionis naturam patricidium operatus est.

Was on be name in special;

Of whom yit the memorial

Abit, for whyl ther is a mouth,

For evere his name schal be couth.

He was a worthi knyht and king

And clerk knowende of every thing;

He was a gret rethorien,

He was a gret magicien; 1400

Of Tullius the rethorique,

Of king Zorastes the magique,

Of Tholome thastronomie,

Of Plato the Philosophie,

Of Daniel the slepi dremes,

Of Neptune ek the water stremes,

Of Salomon and the proverbes,

Of Macer al the strengthe of herbes,

And the Phisique of Ypocras,

And lich unto Pictagoras 1410

P. iii. 49

Of Surgerie he knew the cures.

Bot somwhat of his aventures,

Which schal to mi matiere acorde,

Ter thee, mi Sone, I wol recorde.

This king, of which thou hast herd sein,

Fro Troie as he goth hom ayein

Be Schipe, he fond the See divers,

With many a wyndi storm revers.

Bot he thurgh wisdom that he schapeth838

Ful many a gret peril ascapeth, 1420

Of whiche I thenke tellen on,

Hou that malgre the nedle and ston

Wynddrive he was al soudeinly

Upon the strondes of Cilly,

[Pg 206]

Wher that he moste abyde a whyle.

Tuo queenes weren in that yle

Calipsa named and Circes;

And whan they herde hou Uluxes

Is londed ther upon the ryve,

For him thei senden als so blive. 1430

With him suche as he wolde he nam

And to the court to hem he cam.839

Thes queenes were as tuo goddesses

Of Art magique Sorceresses,

That what lord comth to that rivage,

Thei make him love in such a rage

And upon hem assote so,840

That thei wol have, er that he go,

Al that he hath of worldes good.

Uluxes wel this understod, 1440

P. iii. 50

Thei couthe moche, he couthe more;

Thei schape and caste ayein him sore841

And wroghte many a soutil wyle,

Bot yit thei mihte him noght beguile.842

Bot of the men of his navie

Thei tuo forschope a gret partie,

Mai non of hem withstonde here hestes;

Som part thei schopen into bestes,

Som part thei schopen into foules,

To beres, tigres, Apes, oules, 1450

Or elles be som other weie;

Ther myhte hem nothing desobeie,

Such craft thei hadde above kinde.

Bot that Art couthe thei noght finde,

Of which Uluxes was deceived,

That he ne hath hem alle weyved,

And broght hem into such a rote,

That upon him thei bothe assote;

And thurgh the science of his art

He tok of hem so wel his part, 1460

That he begat Circes with childe.

He kepte him sobre and made hem wilde,

[Pg 207]

He sette himselve so above,

That with here good and with here love,

Who that therof be lief or loth,

Al quit into his Schip he goth.

Circes toswolle bothe sides

He lefte, and waiteth on the tydes,

And straght thurghout the salte fom

He takth his cours and comth him hom, 1470

P. iii. 51

Where as he fond Penolope;

A betre wif ther mai non be,

And yit ther ben ynowhe of goode.

Bot who hir goodschipe understode

Fro ferst that sche wifhode tok,

Hou many loves sche forsok

And hou sche bar hire al aboute,

Ther whiles that hire lord was oute,

He mihte make a gret avant843

Amonges al the remenant 1480

That sche was on of al the beste.844

Wel myhte he sette his herte in reste,

This king, whan he hir fond in hele;

For as he couthe in wisdom dele,

So couthe sche in wommanhiede:

And whan sche syh withoute drede

Hire lord upon his oghne ground,

That he was come sauf and sound,

In al this world ne mihte be845

A gladdere womman than was sche. 1490

The fame, which mai noght ben hidd,

Thurghout the lond is sone kidd,

Here king is come hom ayein:

Ther mai noman the fulle sein,

Hou that thei weren alle glade,

So mochel joie of him thei made.

The presens every day be newed,

He was with yiftes al besnewed;

The poeple was of him so glad,

That thogh non other man hem bad, 1500

P. iii. 52[Pg 208]

Taillage upon hemself thei sette,

And as it were of pure dette

Thei yeve here goodes to the king:

This was a glad hom welcomyng.

Thus hath Uluxes what he wolde,

His wif was such as sche be scholde,

His poeple was to him sougit,

Him lacketh nothing of delit.

Bot fortune is of such a sleyhte,

That whan a man is most on heyhte,846 1510

Sche makth him rathest forto falle:

Ther wot noman what schal befalle,

Oracius. Omnia847 sunt hominum tenui pendencia filo.

The happes over mannes hed

Ben honged with a tendre thred.

That proved was on Uluxes;

For whan he was most in his pes,848

Fortune gan to make him werre

And sette his welthe al out of herre.849

Upon a dai as he was merie,

As thogh ther mihte him nothing derie,850 1520

Whan nyht was come, he goth to bedde,

With slep and bothe his yhen fedde.

And while he slepte, he mette a swevene:

Him thoghte he syh a stature evene,851

Which brihtere than the sonne schon;

A man it semeth was it non,

Bot yit it was as in figure

Most lich to mannyssh creature,

Bot as of beaute hevenelich

It was most to an Angel lich: 1530

P. iii. 53

And thus betwen angel and man

Beholden it this king began,

And such a lust tok of the sihte,

That fain he wolde, if that he mihte,

The forme of that figure embrace;

And goth him forth toward the place,852

Wher he sih that ymage tho,

[Pg 209]

And takth it in his Armes tuo,

And it embraceth him ayein

And to the king thus gan it sein: 1540

‘Uluxes, understand wel this,

The tokne of oure aqueintance is

Hierafterward to mochel tene:

The love that is ous betuene,

Of that we nou such joie make,

That on of ous the deth schal take,

Whan time comth of destine;

It may non other wise be.’

Uluxes tho began to preie

That this figure wolde him seie 1550

What wyht he is that seith him so.

This wyht upon a spere tho

A pensel which was wel begon,

Embrouded, scheweth him anon:

Thre fisshes alle of o colour

In manere as it were a tour

Upon the pensel were wroght.

Uluxes kneu this tokne noght,

And preith to wite in som partie

What thing it myhte signefie, 1560

P. iii. 54

‘A signe it is,’ the wyht ansuerde,

‘Of an Empire:’ and forth he ferde

Al sodeinly, whan he that seide.

Uluxes out of slep abreide,

And that was riht ayein the day,

That lengere slepen he ne may.

Bernardus. Plures plura sciunt853 et seipsos nesciunt.

Men sein, a man hath knowleching854

Save of himself of alle thing;

His oghne chance noman knoweth,

Bot as fortune it on him throweth: 1570

Was nevere yit so wys a clerk,

Which mihte knowe al goddes werk,

Ne the secret which god hath set

Ayein a man mai noght be let.

Uluxes, thogh that he be wys,

[Pg 210]

With al his wit in his avis,

The mor that he his swevene acompteth,

The lasse he wot what it amonteth:

For al his calculacion,

He seth no demonstracion 1580

Al pleinly forto knowe an ende;855

Bot natheles hou so it wende,

He dradde him of his oghne Sone.

That makth him wel the more astone,

And schop therfore anon withal,

So that withinne castel wall

Thelamachum his Sone he schette,

And upon him strong warde he sette.

The sothe furthere he ne knew,

Til that fortune him overthreu; 1590

P. iii. 55

Bot natheles for sikernesse,

Wher that he mihte wite and gesse

A place strengest in his lond,

Ther let he make of lym and sond

A strengthe where he wolde duelle;

Was nevere man yit herde telle

Of such an other as it was.

And forto strengthe him in that cas,856

Of al his lond the sekereste

Of servantz and the worthieste, 1600

To kepen him withinne warde,

He sette his bodi forto warde;857

And made such an ordinance,

For love ne for aqueintance,

That were it erly, were it late,

Thei scholde lete in ate gate

No maner man, what so betydde,

Bot if so were himself it bidde.

Bot al that myhte him noght availe,

For whom fortune wole assaile, 1610

Ther mai be non such resistence,

Which mihte make a man defence;

[Pg 211]

Al that schal be mot falle algate.

This Circes, which I spak of late,

On whom Uluxes hath begete

A child, thogh he it have foryete,

Whan time com, as it was wone,

Sche was delivered of a Sone,

Which cleped is Thelogonus.

This child, whan he was bore thus, 1620

P. iii. 56

Aboute his moder to ful age,

That he can reson and langage,

In good astat was drawe forth:

And whan he was so mochel worth

To stonden in a mannes stede,

Circes his moder hath him bede

That he schal to his fader go,

And tolde him al togedre tho

What man he was that him begat.

And whan Thelogonus of that 1630

Was war and hath ful knowleching858

Hou that his fader was a king,

He preith his moder faire this,

To go wher that his fader is;

And sche him granteth that he schal,

And made him redi forth withal.

It was that time such usance,

That every man the conoiscance

Of his contre bar in his hond,

Whan he wente into strange lond; 1640

And thus was every man therfore

Wel knowe, wher that he was bore:

For espiaile and mistrowinges

They dede thanne suche thinges,

That every man mai other knowe.859

So it befell that ilke throwe

Thelogonus as in this cas;

Of his contre the signe was

Thre fisshes, whiche he scholde bere

Upon the penon of a spere: 1650

P. iii. 57[Pg 212]

And whan that he was thus arraied

And hath his harneis al assaied,

That he was redy everydel,

His moder bad him farewel,

And seide him that he scholde swithe

His fader griete a thousand sithe.

Thelogonus his moder kiste

And tok his leve, and wher he wiste

His fader was, the weie nam,

Til he unto Nachaie cam, 1660

Which of that lond the chief Cite

Was cleped, and ther axeth he

Wher was the king and hou he ferde.

And whan that he the sothe herde,

Wher that the king Uluxes was,

Al one upon his hors gret pas

He rod him forth, and in his hond

He bar the signal of his lond

With fisshes thre, as I have told;860

And thus he wente unto that hold, 1670

Wher that his oghne fader duelleth.

The cause why he comth he telleth

Unto the kepers of the gate,

And wolde have comen in therate,

Bot schortli thei him seide nay:

And he als faire as evere he may

Besoghte and tolde hem ofte this,

Hou that the king his fader is;

Bot they with proude wordes grete

Begunne to manace and threte,861 1680

P. iii. 58

Bot he go fro the gate faste,

Thei wolde him take and sette faste.

Fro wordes unto strokes thus

Thei felle, and so Thelogonus

Was sore hurt and welnyh ded;

Bot with his scharpe speres hed

He makth defence, hou so it falle,

And wan the gate upon hem alle,

And hath slain of the beste fyve;

[Pg 213]

And thei ascriden als so blyve 1690

Thurghout the castell al aboute.862

On every syde men come oute,

Wherof the kinges herte afflihte,

And he with al the haste he mihte

A spere cauhte and out he goth,863

As he that was nyh wod for wroth.864

He sih the gates ful of blod,

Thelogonus and wher he stod

He sih also, bot he ne knew

What man it was, and to him threw865 1700

His Spere, and he sterte out asyde.

Bot destine, which schal betide,

Befell that ilke time so,

Thelogonus knew nothing tho

What man it was that to him caste,

And while his oghne spere laste,

With al the signe therupon

He caste unto the king anon,

And smot him with a dedly wounde.

Uluxes fell anon to grounde; 1710

P. iii. 59

Tho every man, ‘The king! the king!’

Began to crie, and of this thing

Thelogonus, which sih the cas,

On knes he fell and seide, ‘Helas!

I have min oghne fader slain:

Nou wolde I deie wonder fain,866

Nou sle me who that evere wile,

For certes it is riht good skile.’867

He crith, he wepth, he seith therfore,

‘Helas; that evere was I bore, 1720

That this unhappi destine

So wofulli comth in be me!’

This king, which yit hath lif ynouh,

His herte ayein to him he drouh,

And to that vois an Ere he leide

[Pg 214]

And understod al that he seide,

And gan to speke, and seide on hih;

‘Bring me this man.’ And whan he sih

Thelogonus, his thoght he sette

Upon the swevene which he mette, 1730

And axeth that he myhte se

His spere, on which the fisshes thre

He sih upon a pensel wroght.868

Tho wiste he wel it faileth noght,

And badd him that he telle scholde869

Fro whenne he cam and what he wolde.

Thelogonus in sorghe and wo

So as he mihte tolde tho

Unto Uluxes al the cas,

Hou that Circes his moder was, 1740

P. iii. 60

And so forth seide him everydel,

Hou that his moder gret him wel,

And in what wise sche him sente.

Tho wiste Uluxes what it mente,

And tok him in hise Armes softe,

And al bledende he kest him ofte,870

And seide, ‘Sone, whil I live,

This infortune I thee foryive.’

After his other Sone in haste

He sende, and he began him haste 1750

And cam unto his fader tyt.

Bot whan he sih him in such plit,

He wolde have ronne upon that other

Anon, and slain his oghne brother,

Ne hadde be that Uluxes

Betwen hem made acord and pes,

And to his heir Thelamachus

He bad that he Thelogonus

With al his pouer scholde kepe,

Til he were of his woundes depe 1760

Al hol, and thanne he scholde him yive

Lond wher upon he mihte live.

Thelamachus, whan he this herde,

[Pg 215]

Unto his fader he ansuerde

And seide he wolde don his wille.

So duelle thei togedre stille,

These brethren, and the fader sterveth.

Lo, wherof Sorcerie serveth.

Thurgh Sorcerie his lust he wan,

Thurgh Sorcerie his wo began, 1770

P. iii. 61

Thurgh Sorcerie his love he ches,

Thurgh Sorcerie his lif he les;

The child was gete in Sorcerie,

The which dede al this felonie:

Thing which was ayein kynde wroght

Unkindeliche it was aboght;

The child his oghne fader slowh,

That was unkindeschipe ynowh.

Forthi tak hiede hou that it is,

So forto winne love amis, 1780

Which endeth al his joie in wo:

For of this Art I finde also,

That hath be do for loves sake,

Wherof thou miht ensample take,

A gret Cronique imperial,

Which evere into memorial871

Among the men, hou so it wende,872

Schal duelle to the worldes ende.

[Tale of Nectanabus.]

The hihe creatour of thinges,

Which is the king of alle kinges, 1790

Hic narrat exemplum super eodem, qualiter Nectanabus ab Egipto873 in Macedoniam fugitiuus,874 Olimpiadem Philippi Regis ibidem tunc absentis vxorem arte magica decipiens, cum ipsa concubuit, magnumque ex ea Alexandrum sortilegus genuit: qui natus, postea cum ad erudiendum sub custodia Nectanabi commendatus fuisset, ipsum Nectanabum patrem suum ab altitudine cuiusdam turris in fossam profundam proiciens interfecit. Et sic sortilegus ex875 suo sortilegio infortunii sortem sortitus est.

Ful many a wonder worldes chance

Let slyden under his suffrance;

Ther wot noman the cause why,

Bot he the which is almyhty.

And that was proved whilom thus,

Whan that the king Nectanabus,

Which hadde Egipte forto lede,—

Bot for he sih tofor the dede

Thurgh magique of his Sorcerie,

Wherof he couthe a gret partie, 1800

P. iii. 62[Pg 216]

Hise enemys to him comende,

Fro whom he mihte him noght defende,

Out of his oghne lond he fledde;

And in the wise as he him dredde

It fell, for al his wicchecraft,

So that Egipte him was beraft,

And he desguised fledde aweie

Be schipe, and hield the rihte weie

To Macedoine, wher that he

Aryveth ate chief Cite. 1810

Thre yomen of his chambre there

Al only forto serve him were,

The whiche he trusteth wonder wel,

For thei were trewe as eny stiel;

And hapneth that thei with him ladde876

Part of the beste good he hadde.

Thei take logginge in the toun877

After the disposicion

Wher as him thoghte best to duelle:

He axeth thanne and herde telle 1820

Hou that the king was oute go

Upon a werre he hadde tho;

But in that Cite thanne was

The queene, which Olimpias

Was hote, and with sollempnete

The feste of hir nativite,

As it befell, was thanne holde;

And for hire list to be beholde878

And preised of the poeple aboute,

Sche schop hir forto riden oute 1830

P. iii. 63

At after mete al openly.

Anon were alle men redy,

And that was in the monthe of Maii,

This lusti queene in good arrai

Was set upon a Mule whyt:

To sen it was a gret delit

The joie that the cite made;

With freisshe thinges and with glade

[Pg 217]

The noble toun was al behonged,

And every wiht was sore alonged 1840

To se this lusti ladi ryde.

Ther was gret merthe on alle syde;

Wher as sche passeth be the strete,

Ther was ful many a tymber bete

And many a maide carolende:

And thus thurghout the toun pleiende

This queene unto a pleine rod,879

Wher that sche hoved and abod

To se diverse game pleie,

The lusti folk jouste and tourneie; 1850

And so forth every other man,

Which pleie couthe, his pley began,

To plese with this noble queene.

Nectanabus cam to the grene

Amonges othre and drouh him nyh.

Bot whan that he this ladi sih

And of hir beaute hiede tok,

He couthe noght withdrawe his lok

To se noght elles in the field,

Bot stod and only hire behield. 1860

P. iii. 64

Of his clothinge and of his gere

He was unlich alle othre there,

So that it hapneth ate laste,

The queene on him hire yhe caste,

And knew that he was strange anon:

Bot he behield hire evere in on

Withoute blenchinge of his chere.

Sche tok good hiede of his manere,

And wondreth why he dede so,

And bad men scholde for him go. 1870

He cam and dede hire reverence,

And sche him axeth in cilence

Fro whenne he cam and what he wolde.

And he with sobre wordes tolde,

And seith, ‘Ma dame, a clerk I am,880

To you and in message I cam,

The which I mai noght tellen hiere;

[Pg 218]

Bot if it liketh you to hiere,

It mot be seid al prively,881

Wher non schal be bot ye and I.’ 1880

Thus for the time he tok his leve.

The dai goth forth til it was eve,

That every man mot lete his werk;882

And sche thoghte evere upon this clerk,

What thing it is he wolde mene:

And in this wise abod the queene,

And passeth over thilke nyht,

Til it was on the morwe liht.

Sche sende for him, and he com,

With him his Astellabre he nom, 1890

P. iii. 65

Which was of fin gold precious

With pointz and cercles merveilous;

And ek the hevenely figures

Wroght in a bok ful of peintures

He tok this ladi forto schewe,

And tolde of ech of hem be rewe

The cours and the condicion.

And sche with gret affeccion

Sat stille and herde what he wolde:

And thus whan he sih time, he tolde, 1900

And feigneth with hise wordes wise

A tale, and seith in such a wise:

‘Ma dame, bot a while ago,

Wher I was in Egipte tho,

And radde in scole of this science,

It fell into mi conscience

That I unto the temple wente,

And ther with al myn hole entente

As I mi sacrifice dede,

On of the goddes hath me bede 1910

That I you warne prively,

So that ye make you redy,

And that ye be nothing agast;

For he such love hath to you cast,

That ye schul ben his oghne diere,

[Pg 219]

And he schal be your beddefiere,

Til ye conceive and be with childe.’

And with that word sche wax al mylde,

And somdel red becam for schame,

And axeth him that goddes name, 1920

P. iii. 66

Which so wol don hire compainie.

And he seide, ‘Amos of Lubie.’

And sche seith, ‘That mai I noght lieve,

Bot if I sihe a betre prieve.’

‘Ma dame,’ quod Nectanabus,

‘In tokne that it schal be thus,

This nyht for enformacion

Ye schul have an avision:

That Amos schal to you appiere,

To schewe and teche in what manere 1930

The thing schal afterward befalle.883

Ye oghten wel aboven alle

To make joie of such a lord;

For whan ye ben of on acord,

He schal a Sone of you begete,

Which with his swerd schal winne and gete

The wyde world in lengthe and brede;

Alle erthli kinges schull him drede,

And in such wise, I you behote,884

The god of erthe he schal be hote.’ 1940

‘If this be soth,’ tho quod the queene,

‘This nyht, thou seist, it schal be sene.

And if it falle into mi grace,

Of god Amos that I pourchace

To take of him so gret worschipe,

I wol do thee such ladischipe,

Wherof thou schalt for everemo

Be riche.’ And he hir thonketh tho,

And tok his leve and forth he wente.

Sche wiste litel what he mente, 1950

P. iii. 67

For it was guile and Sorcerie,

Al that sche tok for Prophecie.

Nectanabus thurghout the day,

[Pg 220]

Whan he cam hom wher as he lay,885

His chambre be himselve tok,

And overtorneth many a bok,

And thurgh the craft of Artemage

Of wex he forgeth an ymage.

He loketh his equacions

And ek the constellacions, 1960

He loketh the conjunccions,

He loketh the recepcions,

His signe, his houre, his ascendent,

And drawth fortune of his assent:

The name of queene Olimpias

In thilke ymage write was

Amiddes in the front above.

And thus to winne his lust of love

Nectanabus this werk hath diht;

And whan it cam withinne nyht, 1970

That every wyht is falle aslepe,

He thoghte he wolde his time kepe,

As he which hath his houre apointed.

And thanne ferst he hath enoignted

With sondri herbes that figure,

And therupon he gan conjure,

So that thurgh his enchantement

This ladi, which was innocent

And wiste nothing of this guile,

Mette, as sche slepte thilke while, 1980

P. iii. 68

Hou fro the hevene cam a lyht,

Which al hir chambre made lyht;

And as sche loketh to and fro,

Sche sih, hir thoghte, a dragoun tho,

Whos scherdes schynen as the Sonne,

And hath his softe pas begonne

With al the chiere that he may

Toward the bedd ther as sche lay,

Til he cam to the beddes side.

And sche lai stille and nothing cride, 1990

For he dede alle his thinges faire

And was courteis and debonaire:

[Pg 221]

And as he stod hire fasteby,886

His forme he changeth sodeinly,

And the figure of man he nom,

To hire and into bedde he com,887

And such thing there of love he wroghte,

Wherof, so as hire thanne thoghte,

Thurgh likinge of this god Amos

With childe anon hire wombe aros, 2000

And sche was wonder glad withal.

Nectanabus, which causeth al

Of this metrede the substance,

Whan he sih time, his nigromance

He stinte and nothing more seide

Of his carecte, and sche abreide

Out of hir slep, and lieveth wel

That it is soth thanne everydel

Of that this clerk hire hadde told,

And was the gladdere manyfold 2010

P. iii. 69

In hope of such a glad metrede,

Which after schal befalle in dede.

Sche longeth sore after the dai,

That sche hir swevene telle mai

To this guilour in privete,

Which kneu it als so wel as sche:888

And natheles on morwe sone

Sche lefte alle other thing to done,

And for him sende, and al the cas

Sche tolde him pleinly as it was, 2020

And seide hou thanne wel sche wiste

That sche his wordes mihte triste,

For sche fond hire Avisioun

Riht after the condicion

Which he hire hadde told tofore;

And preide him hertely therfore

That he hire holde covenant

So forth of al the remenant,

That sche may thurgh his ordinance

Toward the god do such plesance,889 2030

That sche wakende myhte him kepe[Pg 222]

In such wise as sche mette aslepe.

And he, that couthe of guile ynouh,

Whan he this herde, of joie he louh,

And seith, ‘Ma dame, it schal be do.

Bot this I warne you therto:

This nyht, whan that he comth to pleie,

That ther be no lif in the weie

Bot I, that schal at his likinge

Ordeine so for his cominge, 2040

P. iii. 70

That ye ne schull noght of him faile.890

For this, ma dame, I you consaile,

That ye it kepe so prive,

That no wiht elles bot we thre

Have knowlechinge hou that it is;

For elles mihte it fare amis,891

If ye dede oght that scholde him grieve.’

And thus he makth hire to believe,

And feigneth under guile feith:

Bot natheles al that he seith 2050

Sche troweth; and ayein the nyht

Sche hath withinne hire chambre dyht,

Wher as this guilour faste by

Upon this god schal prively

Awaite, as he makth hire to wene:892

And thus this noble gentil queene,

Whan sche most trusteth, was deceived.

The nyht com, and the chambre is weyved,

Nectanabus hath take his place,

And whan he sih the time and space, 2060

Thurgh the deceipte of his magique893

He putte him out of mannes like,894

And of a dragoun tok the forme,

As he which wolde him al conforme

To that sche sih in swevene er this;

[Pg 223]

And thus to chambre come he is.

The queene lay abedde and sih,

And hopeth evere, as he com nyh,

That he god of Lubye were,

So hath sche wel the lasse fere. 2070

P. iii. 71

Bot for he wolde hire more assure,895

Yit eft he changeth his figure,

And of a wether the liknesse

He tok, in signe of his noblesse

With large hornes for the nones:

Of fin gold and of riche stones

A corone on his hed he bar,

And soudeinly, er sche was war,

As he which alle guile can,

His forme he torneth into man, 2080

And cam to bedde, and sche lai stille,

Wher as sche soffreth al his wille,

As sche which wende noght misdo.896

Bot natheles it hapneth so,

Althogh sche were in part deceived,

Yit for al that sche hath conceived

The worthieste of alle kiththe,

Which evere was tofore or siththe

Of conqueste and chivalerie;897

So that thurgh guile and Sorcerie 2090

Ther was that noble knyht begunne,898

Which al the world hath after wunne.

Thus fell the thing which falle scholde,

Nectanabus hath that he wolde;

With guile he hath his love sped,

With guile he cam into the bed,

With guile he goth him out ayein:

He was a schrewed chamberlein,

So to beguile a worthi queene,

And that on him was after seene. 2100

P. iii. 72

Bot natheles the thing is do;

This false god was sone go,

[Pg 224]

With his deceipte and hield him clos,

Til morwe cam, that he aros.

And tho, whan time and leisir was,

The queene tolde him al the cas,

As sche that guile non supposeth;

And of tuo pointz sche him opposeth.

On was, if that this god nomore

Wol come ayein, and overmore, 2110

Hou sche schal stonden in acord

With king Philippe hire oghne lord,

Whan he comth hom and seth hire grone.

‘Ma dame,’ he seith, ‘let me alone:

As for the god I undertake

That whan it liketh you to take

His compaignie at eny throwe,

If I a day tofore it knowe,

He schal be with you on the nyht;

And he is wel of such a myht 2120

To kepe you from alle blame.

Forthi conforte you, ma dame,

Ther schal non other cause be.’

Thus tok he leve and forth goth he,

And tho began he forto muse

Hou he the queene mihte excuse

Toward the king of that is falle;

And fond a craft amonges alle,

Thurgh which he hath a See foul daunted,

With his magique and so enchaunted, 2130

P. iii. 73

That he flyh forth, whan it was nyht,

Unto the kinges tente riht,

Wher that he lay amidde his host:

And whanne he was aslepe most,

With that the See foul to him broghte

And othre charmes, whiche he wroghte899

At hom withinne his chambre stille,

The king he torneth at his wille,

And makth him forto dreme and se

The dragoun and the privete 2140

Which was betuen him and the queene.900

[Pg 225]

And over that he made him wene

In swevene, hou that the god Amos,

Whan he up fro the queene aros,

Tok forth a ring, wherinne a ston901

Was set, and grave therupon

A Sonne, in which, whan he cam nyh,

A leoun with a swerd he sih;

And with that priente, as he tho mette,902

Upon the queenes wombe he sette 2150

A Seal, and goth him forth his weie.

With that the swevene wente aweie,

And tho began the king awake

And sigheth for his wyves sake,

Wher as he lay withinne his tente,903

And hath gret wonder what it mente.904

With that he hasteth him to ryse

Anon, and sende after the wise,

Among the whiche ther was on,

A clerc, his name is Amphion: 2160

P. iii. 74

Whan he the kinges swevene herde,

What it betokneth he ansuerde,

And seith, ‘So siker as the lif,

A god hath leie be thi wif,

And gete a Sone, which schal winne

The world and al that is withinne.

As leon is the king of bestes,

So schal the world obeie his hestes,

Which with his swerd schal al be wonne,

Als ferr as schyneth eny Sonne.’ 2170

The king was doubtif of this dom;

Bot natheles, whan that he com

Ayein into his oghne lond,

His wif with childe gret he fond.

He mihte noght himselve stiere,

That he ne made hire hevy chiere;

Bot he which couthe of alle sorwe,

Nectanabus, upon the morwe

Thurgh the deceipte and nigromance

[Pg 226]

Tok of a dragoun the semblance, 2180

And wher the king sat in his halle,

Com in rampende among hem alle

With such a noise and such a rore,

That thei agast were also sore

As thogh thei scholde deie anon.

And natheles he grieveth non,

Bot goth toward the deyss on hih;

And whan he cam the queene nyh,

He stinte his noise, and in his wise

To hire he profreth his servise, 2190

P. iii. 75

And leith his hed upon hire barm;

And sche with goodly chiere hire arm

Aboute his necke ayeinward leide,

And thus the queene with him pleide

In sihte of alle men aboute.

And ate laste he gan to loute

And obeissance unto hire make,

As he that wolde his leve take;

And sodeinly his lothly forme

Into an Egle he gan transforme, 2200

And flyh and sette him on a raile;

Wherof the king hath gret mervaile,

For there he pruneth him and piketh,

As doth an hauk whan him wel liketh,

And after that himself he schok,

Wherof that al the halle quok,

As it a terremote were;

Thei seiden alle, god was there:

In such a res and forth he flyh.

The king, which al this wonder syh, 2210

Whan he cam to his chambre alone,

Unto the queene he made his mone905

And of foryivenesse hir preide;

For thanne he knew wel, as he seide,

Sche was with childe with a godd.

Thus was the king withoute rodd

Chastised, and the queene excused

Of that sche hadde ben accused.

[Pg 227]

And for the gretere evidence,

Yit after that in the presence 2220

P. iii. 76

Of king Philipp and othre mo,

Whan thei ride in the fieldes tho,

A Phesant cam before here yhe,

The which anon as thei hire syhe,

Fleende let an ey doun falle,

And it tobrak tofore hem alle:906

And as thei token therof kepe,

Thei syhe out of the schelle crepe

A litel Serpent on the ground,

Which rampeth al aboute round, 2230

And in ayein it wolde have wonne,907

Bot for the brennynge of the Sonne

It mihte noght, and so it deide.

And therupon the clerkes seide,

‘As the Serpent, whan it was oute,

Went enviroun the schelle aboute

And mihte noght torne in ayein,

So schal it fallen in certein:

This child the world schal environe,

And above alle the corone 2240

Him schal befalle, and in yong Age

He schal desire in his corage,

Whan al the world is in his hond,

To torn ayein into the lond908

Wher he was bore, and in his weie

Homward he schal with puison deie.’

The king, which al this sih and herde,909

Fro that dai forth, hou so it ferde,

His jalousie hath al foryete.

Bot he which hath the child begete, 2250

P. iii. 77

Nectanabus, in privete

The time of his nativite

Upon the constellacioun

Awaiteth, and relacion

Makth to the queene hou sche schal do,910

[Pg 228]

And every houre apointeth so,

That no mynut therof was lore.911

So that in due time is bore

This child, and forth with therupon

Ther felle wondres many on 2260

Of terremote universiel:

The Sonne tok colour of stiel

And loste his lyht, the wyndes blewe,

And manye strengthes overthrewe;

The See his propre kinde changeth,

And al the world his forme strangeth;

The thonder with his fyri levene

So cruel was upon the hevene,

That every erthli creature

Tho thoghte his lif in aventure. 2270

The tempeste ate laste cesseth,

The child is kept, his age encresseth,

And Alisandre his name is hote,

To whom Calistre and Aristote

To techen him Philosophie

Entenden, and Astronomie,

With othre thinges whiche he couthe

Also, to teche him in his youthe

Nectanabus tok upon honde.

Bot every man mai understonde, 2280

P. iii. 78

Of Sorcerie hou that it wende,

It wole himselve prove at ende,

And namely forto beguile

A lady, which withoute guile

Supposeth trouthe al that sche hiereth:

Bot often he that evele stiereth

His Schip is dreynt therinne amidde;

And in this cas riht so betidde.

Nectanabus upon a nyht,

Whan it was fair and sterre lyht, 2290

This yonge lord ladde up on hih

Above a tour, wher as he sih

The sterres suche as he acompteth,

And seith what ech of hem amonteth,

[Pg 229]

As thogh he knewe of alle thing;

Bot yit hath he no knowleching

What schal unto himself befalle.

Whan he hath told his wordes alle,

This yonge lord thanne him opposeth,912

And axeth if that he supposeth 2300

What deth he schal himselve deie.913

He seith, ‘Or fortune is aweie

And every sterre hath lost his wone,914

Or elles of myn oghne Sone

I schal be slain, I mai noght fle.’

Thoghte Alisandre in privete,

‘Hierof this olde dotard lieth’:

And er that other oght aspieth,

Al sodeinliche his olde bones

He schof over the wal at ones, 2310

P. iii. 79

And seith him, ‘Ly doun there apart:

Wherof nou serveth al thin art?

Thou knewe alle othre mennes chance

And of thiself hast ignorance:915

That thou hast seid amonges alle

Of thi persone, is noght befalle.’

Nectanabus, which hath his deth,

Yit while him lasteth lif and breth,

To Alisandre he spak and seide

That he with wrong blame on him leide; 2320

Fro point to point and al the cas

He tolde, hou he his Sone was.

Tho he, which sory was ynowh,

Out of the dich his fader drouh,

And tolde his moder hou it ferde

In conseil; and whan sche it herde

And kneu the toknes whiche he tolde,

Sche nyste what sche seie scholde,

Bot stod abayssht as for the while

Of his magique and al the guile. 2330

Sche thoghte hou that sche was deceived,916

[Pg 230]

That sche hath of a man conceived,

And wende a god it hadde be.

Bot natheles in such degre,

So as sche mihte hire honour save,

Sche schop the body was begrave.

And thus Nectanabus aboghte

The Sorcerie which he wroghte:

Thogh he upon the creatures

Thurgh his carectes and figures 2340

P. iii. 80

The maistrie and the pouer hadde,

His creatour to noght him ladde,

Ayein whos lawe his craft he useth,

Whan he for lust his god refuseth,

And tok him to the dieules craft,917

Lo, what profit him is belaft:

That thing thurgh which he wende have stonde,

Ferst him exilede out of londe

Which was his oghne, and from a king

Made him to ben an underling; 2350

And siththen to deceive a queene,

That torneth him to mochel teene;

Thurgh lust of love he gat him hate,

That ende couthe he noght abate.

His olde sleyhtes whiche he caste,918

Yonge Alisaundre hem overcaste,

His fader, which him misbegat,919

He slouh, a gret mishap was that;

Bot for o mis an other mys

Was yolde, and so fulofte it is; 2360

Nectanabus his craft miswente,

So it misfell him er he wente.

I not what helpeth that clergie

Which makth a man to do folie,

And nameliche of nigromance,

Which stant upon the mescreance.

[Zoroaster.]

And forto se more evidence,

Nota qualiter Rex Zorastes, statim cum ab vtero matris sue nasceretur, gaudio magno risit; in quo prenosticum doloris subsequentis signum figurabatur: nam et ipse detestabilis magice primus fuit inuentor, quem postea Rex Surrie dira morte trucidauit, et sic opus operarium consumpsit.

Zorastes, which thexperience

Of Art magique ferst forth drouh,

[Pg 231]

Anon as he was bore, he louh, 2370

P. iii. 81

Which tokne was of wo suinge:

For of his oghne controvinge

He fond magique and tauhte it forth;

Bot al that was him litel worth,

For of Surrie a worthi king

Him slou, and that was his endyng.920

Bot yit thurgh him this craft is used,

And he thurgh al the world accused,

For it schal nevere wel achieve

That stant noght riht with the believe: 2380

Bot lich to wolle is evele sponne,

Who lest himself hath litel wonne,

[Saul and the Witch.]

An ende proveth every thing.921

Saül, which was of Juys king,

Nota de Saule et Phitonissa.922

Up peine of deth forbad this art,

And yit he tok therof his part.

The Phitonesse in Samarie

Yaf him conseil be Sorcerie,

Which after fell to mochel sorwe,

For he was slain upon the morwe. 2390

Confessor.

To conne moche thing it helpeth,

Bot of to mochel noman yelpeth:

So forto loke on every side,

Magique mai noght wel betyde.

[Magic to be eschewed.]

Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede

That thou of these ensamples drede,

That for no lust of erthli love

Thou seche so to come above,

Wherof as in the worldes wonder

Thou schalt for evere be put under. 2400

P. iii. 82

Amans.

Mi goode fader, grant mercy,

For evere I schal be war therby:

Of love what me so befalle,923

Such Sorcerie aboven alle

Fro this dai forth I schal eschuie,

[Pg 232]

That so ne wol I noght poursuie

Mi lust of love forto seche.

Bot this I wolde you beseche,

Beside that me stant of love,

As I you herde speke above 2410

Hou Alisandre was betawht

To Aristotle, and so wel tawht

Of al that to a king belongeth,

Wherof min herte sore longeth

To wite what it wolde mene.

For be reson I wolde wene

That if I herde of thinges strange,924

Yit for a time it scholde change

Mi peine, and lisse me somdiel.

Confessor.

Mi goode Sone, thou seist wel. 2420

For wisdom, hou that evere it stonde,

To him that can it understonde

Doth gret profit in sondri wise;

Bot touchende of so hih aprise,

Which is noght unto Venus knowe,

I mai it noght miselve knowe,

Which of hir court am al forthdrawe

And can nothing bot of hir lawe.

Bot natheles to knowe more

Als wel as thou me longeth sore; 2430

P. iii. 83

And for it helpeth to comune,

Al ben thei noght to me comune,

The scoles of Philosophie,925

Yit thenke I forto specefie,

In boke as it is comprehended,926

Wherof thou mihtest ben amended.

For thogh I be noght al cunnynge

Upon the forme of this wrytynge,

Som part therof yit have I herd,

In this matiere hou it hath ferd. 2440

Explicit Liber Sextus.

FOOTNOTES:

702 10 sette AJC, S, F set BT

703 13 tuo] mo B

704 34 wext BT, F wexit J wexþ A wexeþ C

705 44 As for AdBTΛ

706 57 a man be] for to be AdBT a man to be JB₂, Δ

707 59 sterte AJ, S, F stert C, BT

708 66 care H₁ ... B₂

709 69 ffro F

710 79 doted AdBT

711 86 þei ne knowe AM ... B₂ (except GE) þei knewe J

712 101 If] Of ERCB₂ Thouȝe X

713 145 newefot S, F the rest newe foot (fot)

714 151 a pas H₁ ... B₂

715 152 cuer(e) it was AdBT

716 160 I am H₁XERC

717 162 With] The AM ... B₂

718 172 so om. H₁ ... B₂

719 197 or] and AMX ... B₂, Δ

720 202 ȝif A, F ȝiue J, B ffor wel is me þat I haue leue H₁ ... B₂ (I om. C)

721 209 Vnto AdBT

722 215 þo hetes ST þo hertes B

723 235 I om. AM

724 241 at] al (alle) H₁E, SAdTΔ

725 242 hou] þat AM

726 262 þruste M, Δ trust(e) AdBT, W

727 281 wher þat AMG, H₃

728 285 line om. B

729 297 wel om. AM ... B₂

730 329 be falle JH₁ERB₂, BT

731 339 caste AdBT, H₃

732 354 of þe seke AM ... B₂

733 357 In iape AM

734 358 vnserued AM, W

735 363 drinke al H₁X, AdBT drunken (om. al) E all (om. drunke) B₂ dronke and W

736 367 Of louedrunke and schalt FK Of louedrunke and schal J, SAdBT, W Of louedrinke and schal AM ... B₂, Δ Of loue drunken and shal H₃

737 376 lest J, B, F lesþ A leeseþ C

738 379 which A, B, F whiche J

739 382 that om. AdBT

740 387 I wel AJM I wol(e) H₁ ... B₂

741 408 the] þei F

742 409 margin concussit A ... B₂

743 414 for defaute H₁ ... C, Δ, H₃ in defaute B₂, W

744 421 wofull] foule AdBT

745 434 Was] Ȝaf H₁ ... B₂

746 442 þe nede AM ... B₂

747 463 i (I) torne AM

748 469 So þat AdBT, W

749 470 margin ad potum H₁ ... B₂

750 488 margin contigentibus F

751 495 feste AJ, B fest C, F

752 497 margin in om. H₁ ... B₂, SBΔ, W

753 500 be gete] begete (bigete) AX, SAdTΔ

754 508 ȝoue B, F ȝeue A ȝiue J, C

755 513 halfwode S, F half wode (woode) AJ, B

756 519 On] Of B

757 531 þis vice A ... B₂, S ... Δ

758 556 margin perierunt A ... B₂

759 543 and of H₁ ... B₂, W

760 550 margin que tandem AM coclamante F

761 554 neuere AJ, T neuer C, SB, F

762 559 Sonne H₁E, B, W (sonne bright)

763 569 of fool] a fool AM ... C a foul B₂ of foul Ad of foli Δ

764 590 fille ful] fulfille (ful fille) H₁XRCB₂ fulle M fille W

765 599 I rede þe H₁ERCB₂, Ad I rede þou X (I rede þe M corr.)

766 Latin Verses ii. 6 fatur H₁ ... B₂, B

767 621 margin molliciis A ... B₂

768 623 margin quoque AMH₁XB₂, W

769 620 is Past of] his past of AJ is past(e) as BT his past is Ad

770 633 Richesse AMH₁, H₃ Riches W

771 647 For bot] But if AdBT

772 653 who that] who so AM ... B₂

773 664 Vsance A ... B₂

774 665-964 ins. after 1146 SAdBTΔΛ These copies proceed here with l. 965

Vsage is þe seconde kinde

In loue als wel as oþer weie, &c.

775 673 nou om. AM

776 681 His honour AM

777 686 But if BT

778 715 a goodly JH₁RCB₂, AdBT, H₃ a gladly W one goodly Δ

779 734 ful paast AM

780 746 Of fieding(e) AM, AdΛ, H₃ If feding(e) H₁ ... B₂ (not G) Tho fedyng W

781 751 of herte] and herte AJM

782 762 he hire] to hir(e) AdBT

783 784 myn] his AM ... B₂

784 785 schapþe S, F the rest schape (schappe &c.)

785 827 Paragraph at l. 830 in MSS.

786 838 seith] seie MC, AdΔ, W (say)

787 841 is also] seiþ also AdBT

788 856 and all(e) þe spices M ... B₂, W

789 892 for tacompten B

790 899 as I þe seye B

791 906 fode] þoughtes B om. AdT flode B₂

792 927 toforn AdBT

793 928 on] of EB₂, AdBT

794 946 I do] to do AM

795 After 964 Als wel be reson as be kinde etc. (1149 ff.) SAdBTΔΛ

796 973 To] In AM ... B₂

797 979 margin gesta B

798 988 eek he was C, Δ

799 993 As] And AdBT stood al H₁ ... B₂, Ad, W

800 998 he] be AMXRB₂

801 1004 þis p. S ... Δ

802 1006 þe p. S ... Δ

803 1008 ffor AdBT

804 1010 these] þe AM ... B₂, H₃

805 1023 Habrahammes J, F rest Abrahames (Abrahams &c.): so 1039, 1046, 1073

806 1027 the] þis H₁ ... B₂

807 1030 Vnto þe helle BT In to helle JRB₂, Δ, W

808 1048 margin Salomon. Qui obturat aures suas ad clamorem pauperum, ipse clamabit et non exaudietur SBTΔ

809 1085 I drye] þey drye B

810 1089 his] þis (this) H₁, AdBTΔ (his S)

811 1098 hou om. S ... Δ

812 1100 Habraham JX, F rest Abraham

813 1105 wold(e) M, B, W

814 1107 Than eny AH₁ Themeny M (p. m.)

815 1109 of lyue X ... B₂, Ad, H₃ on liue Δ

816 1112 be holde JH₁RB₂

817 After 1146 SAdBTΔΛ have the following six lines (omitting the two 1147 f.), and then insert the passage 665-964. The text here is that of S:—

Bot now a dai a man mai se

The world so full of vanite,

That noman takþ of reson hiede

Or forto cloþe or forto fiede,

Bot al is sett vnto þe vice

To newe and changen his delice.

And riht so etc. (as 665 ff.)

818 1151 That man X ... B₂ (not G), W

819 1155 margin minus om. B

820 1186 let C, BT lete AJ, S, F

821 1209 non] anon EC, AdBT

822 1230 it is AM ... B₂

823 1233 Alþough B As þough AdT Thogh W

824 1245 no] þe B₂, AdBT þat M

825 1254 is] as A ... B₂

826 1257 wol(e) AH₁ ... B₂

827 1267 he] it G, B

827m 1267 margin Sortilegio SBTΔΛ Sacrilegio AX ... B₂, FH₃ sacrilegis H₁ sacri legis M (Latin om. J, Ad, W)

828 1289 som men] somme (some &c.) A ... B₂

829 1293 margin et de] et BT

830 1294 pikkes AdBTΛ

831 1312 of] to AM

832 1317 Ne] The B

833 1319 and] of B

834 1320 Chenbal B₂, SΔ Geubal AM Glenball H₃ Thenballe W

835 1359 red S, F rede AJC, B

836 1388 whilom how þerof AMX ... B₂ hou somtyme þ. J whilome therof how H₁

837 1391 whiche SB which AJC, F

838 1419 which B

839 1432 of hem AdBT

840 1437 And] That AM ... B₂ (not G)

841 1442 schope S ... Δ

842 1444 And ȝit AM ... B₂

843 1479 a om. AJMXGERCL

844 1481 was om. AdBT

845 1489 þe world AM ... B₂

846 1510 on] of AMG, H₃ in Δ

847 1513 margin Omina T, F

848 1516 in pes AdBTΔ (in his pes S)

849 1518 al om. AdBT

850 1520 ther] he AM

851 1524 statue A ... B₂, B

852 1536 þat place BT

853 1567 margin Multi multa sciunt AH₁XGECLB₂ Latin om. JMR, AdB, W

854 1567 seiþ SBT

855 1581 As S ... Δ

856 1598 þe cas JM, Δ þa cas A

857 1602 He] His F He charged hem þei scholde harde H₁ ... B₂ (but warde E)

858 1631 hath] had (hadde) AM ... B₂, W

859 1645 mihte (might) S ... Δ

860 1669 Which A

861 1680 and to þrete JH₁CB₂, Δ, WK

862 1691 al om. AM

863 1695 out] forþ H₁, AdBT

864 1696 nyh] right AdBT for wroth] and wroþ AM ... B₂ (except C), W wroþ T for worþ J

865 1700 and] but AdBT

866 1716 I wolde AMX ... B₂

867 1718 good skile] and skile S ... ΔΛ

868 1733 þe pensel G, B

869 1735 badd S bad A, B bed J badde F

870 1746 kest J, SB, F keste T kiste AC

871 1786 into] in A ... B₂ vnto W

872 1787 it so AM

873 1793 margin de Egipto BT

874 1794 margin fugiturus BT

875 1806 margin ex] pro BT

876 1815 thei] he B

877 1817 toke (took &c.) A ... B₂

878 1828 to beholde (be holde) H₁, AdTB

879 1847 þe pleine AdBT

880 1875 And] He AdBT

881 1879 al] so S ... Δ

882 1883 leue R, AdBT

883 1931 thing] king B

884 1939 such AJC, B suche S, F

885 1954 wher þat A ... B₂ (except E) ther as W

886 1993 fasteby J, F faste by AC, SB

887 1996 he om. AdBT

888 2016 als (as) wel XCLB₂, Δ(?), WK

889 2030 Towardes (Toward) god AdBT

890 2041 ȝe schol (schul) not of him AdΔ ye ne shalle of him H₁ I ne schal of him AM

891 2046 mihte AJ, S miht F might C, B

892 2055 and he makþ BT and makeþ Ad

893 2061 the om. AM ... B₂, Δ

894 2062 putte AC, B put J, F

895 2071 wolde AJ, SB wold F

896 2083 noght misdo om. B

897 2089 and of cheualerie (chiualrie &c.) AM ... B₂, AdΔ, W

898 2091 that] þe AM

899 2136 Anoþer charme H₁ ... B₂

900 2141 hem B, K

901 2145 þer inne AdBT

902 2149 tho] so AdBT

903 2155 Wher þat AM ... B₂

904 2156 what] þat AM

905 2212 he om. B

906 2226 bifore (biforn &c.) M ... B₂ afore (aforn) Δ, W

907 2231 he wolde AdBT

908 2244 vnto AdBT

909 2247 sih (sigh, seyh) A, SB sihe F sye J

910 2255 schal] had H₁, AdBT

911 2257 no om. B

912 2299 apposeþ AMGB₂, W

913 2301 schold(e) SAdBT

914 2303 hast F

915 2314 of H₁GEC, S ... Δ, W if AJMXRLB₂, FK

916 2331 that om. AM ... B₂, WK

917 2345 dieules S, F dieueles A deueles J, B

918 2355 caste] caughte B

919 2357 S has lost a leaf 2357-vii. 88.

920 2376 that om. AM

921 2383 An ende BT, F And ende AJMERL, Ad, K And þende CL And the ende H₁ And sende X The ende B₂, W At ende Δ

922 2385 margin Nota de Saule et Ph. om. AM, Δ

923 2403 so me A ... B₂, AdΔ euer me W

924 2417 But B

925 2433 Philophie F

926 2435 bokes AdBT, W

[Pg 233]

Incipit Liber Septimus.

P. iii. 84

[The Education of Alexander.]

i. Omnibus in causis sapiens doctrina salutem

Consequitur, nec habet quis nisi doctus opem.

Naturam superat doctrina, viro quod et ortus

Ingenii docilis non dedit, ipsa dabit.

Non ita discretus hominum per climata regnat,

Quin, magis vt sapiat, indiget ipse scole.

I Genius the prest of love,

Quia omnis doctrina bona humano regimini salutem confert, in hoc septimo libro ad instanciam Amantis languidi intendit Genius illam ex qua Philosophi et Astrologi philosophie doctrinam Regem Alexandrum imbuerunt, secundum aliquid declarare. Diuidit enim philosophiam in tres partes, quarum prima Theorica, secunda Rethorica, tercia Practica nuncupata est, de quarum condicionibus subsequenter per singula tractabit.

Mi Sone, as thou hast preid above

That I the Scole schal declare

Of Aristotle and ek the fare

Of Alisandre, hou he was tauht,

I am somdel therof destrauht;

For it is noght to the matiere

Of love, why we sitten hiere

To schryve, so as Venus bad.

Bot natheles, for it is glad, 10

So as thou seist, for thin aprise

To hiere of suche thinges wise,

Wherof thou myht the time lisse,927

So as I can, I schal the wisse:

P. iii. 85

For wisdom is at every throwe928

Above alle other thing to knowe

In loves cause and elleswhere.

Forthi, my Sone, unto thin Ere,

Though it be noght in the registre

Of Venus, yit of that Calistre 20

And Aristotle whylom write

To Alisandre, thou schalt wite.

Bot for the lores ben diverse,

[Pg 234]

[Three Parts of Philosophy.]

I thenke ferst to the reherce

The nature of Philosophie;929

Which Aristotle of his clergie,

Wys and expert in the sciences,

Declareth thilke intelligences,930

As of thre pointz in principal.931

Wherof the ferste in special 30

Is Theorique, which is grounded

On him which al the world hath founded,

Which comprehendeth al the lore.

And forto loken overmore,

Next of sciences the seconde

Is Rethorique, whos faconde

Above alle othre is eloquent:

To telle a tale in juggement

So wel can noman speke as he.

The laste science of the thre 40

It is Practique, whos office

The vertu tryeth fro the vice,

And techeth upon goode thewes

To fle the compaignie of schrewes,

P. iii. 86

Which stant in disposicion

Of mannes free eleccion.

Practique enformeth ek the reule,

Hou that a worthi king schal reule

His Realme bothe in werre and pes.

Lo, thus danz Aristotiles 50

These thre sciences hath divided

And the nature also decided,

Wherof that ech of hem schal serve.

The ferste, which is the conserve

And kepere of the remnant,

As that which is most sufficant932

And chief of the Philosophie,

If I therof schal specefie

So as the Philosophre tolde,

Nou herkne, and kep that thou it holde. 60

[i. Theoric.][Pg 235]

ii. Prima creatorem dat scire sciencia summum:

Qui caput agnoscit, sufficit illud ei.933

Plura viros quandoque iuuat nescire, set illud

Quod videt expediens, sobrius ille sapit.

Of Theorique principal

The Philosophre in special

The propretees hath determined,

Hic tractat de prima parte Philosophie, que Theorica dicitur, cuius natura triplici dotata est sciencia, scilicet Theologia, Phisica et Mathematica: set primo illam partem Theologie declarabit.

As thilke which is enlumined

Of wisdom and of hih prudence

Above alle othre in his science:

And stant departed upon thre,

The ferste of which in his degre

Is cleped in Philosophie

The science of Theologie, 70

P. iii. 87

That other named is Phisique,

The thridde is seid Mathematique.

[Theology.]

Theologie is that science

Which unto man yifth evidence

Of thing which is noght bodely,

Wherof men knowe redely

The hihe almyhti Trinite,

Which is o god in unite

Withouten ende and beginnynge

And creatour of alle thinge, 80

Of hevene, of erthe and ek of helle.

Wherof, as olde bokes telle,

The Philosophre in his resoun

Wrot upon this conclusioun,

And of his wrytinge in a clause

He clepeth god the ferste cause,

Which of himself is thilke good,934

Withoute whom nothing is good,

Of which that every creature935

Hath his beinge and his nature. 90

Nota quod triplex dicitur essencia: Prima temporanea, que incipit et desinit, Secunda perpetua, que incipit et non desinit, Tercia sempiterna, que nec incipit nec desinit.

After the beinge of the thinges

Ther ben thre formes of beinges:936

Thing which began and ende schal,

[Pg 236]

That thing is cleped temporal;

Ther is also be other weie

Thing which began and schal noght deie,

As Soules, that ben spiritiel,

Here beinge is perpetuel:

Bot ther is on above the Sonne,

Whos time nevere was begonne, 100

P. iii. 88

And endeles schal evere be;

That is the god, whos mageste

Alle othre thinges schal governe,

And his beinge is sempiterne.

The god, to whom that al honour

Belongeth, he is creatour,

And othre ben hise creatures:

The god commandeth the natures937

That thei to him obeien alle;938

Withouten him, what so befalle, 110

Her myht is non, and he mai al:

The god was evere and evere schal,

And thei begonne of his assent;

The times alle be present

To god, to hem and alle unknowe,

Bot what him liketh that thei knowe:

Thus bothe an angel and a man,

The whiche of al that god began

Be chief, obeien goddes myht,939

And he stant endeles upriht. 120

To this science ben prive

The clerkes of divinite,

The whiche unto the poeple prechen

The feith of holi cherche and techen,

Which in som cas upon believe

Stant more than thei conne prieve

Be weie of Argument sensible:

Bot natheles it is credible,

And doth a man gret meede have,

To him that thenkth himself to save. 130

P. iii. 89

Theologie in such a wise

[Pg 237]

Of hih science and hih aprise

Above alle othre stant unlike,

And is the ferste of Theorique.

[Physics.]

Phisique is after the secounde,

Nota de secunda parte Theorice, que Phisica dicitur.

Thurgh which the Philosophre hath founde

To techen sondri knowlechinges

Upon the bodiliche thinges.

Of man, of beste, of herbe, of ston,

Of fissch, of foughl, of everychon 140

That ben of bodely substance,

The nature and the circumstance

Thurgh this science it is ful soght,

Which vaileth and which vaileth noght.

[Mathematics.]

The thridde point of Theorique,

Nota de tercia parte Theorice, que Mathematica dicitur, cuius condicio quatuor in se continet intelligencias, scilicet Arsmeticam, Musicam, Geometriam et Astronomiam: set primo de Artismetice natura dicere intendit.

Which cleped is Mathematique,

Devided is in sondri wise

And stant upon diverse aprise.

The ferste of whiche is Arsmetique,

And the secounde is seid Musique, 150

The thridde is ek Geometrie,

Also the ferthe Astronomie.

Of Arsmetique the matiere

Is that of which a man mai liere

What Algorisme in nombre amonteth,

Whan that the wise man acompteth

After the formel proprete

Of Algorismes Abece:

Be which multiplicacioun

Is mad and diminucioun 160

P. iii. 90

Of sommes be thexperience

Of this Art and of this science.

Nota de Musica, que secunda pars Artis Mathematice dicitur.

The seconde of Mathematique,940

Which is the science of Musique,

That techeth upon Armonie

A man to make melodie

Be vois and soun of instrument

Thurgh notes of acordement,

The whiche men pronounce alofte,

Nou scharpe notes and nou softe, 170

Nou hihe notes and nou lowe,[Pg 238]

As be the gamme a man mai knowe,

Which techeth the prolacion

Of note and the condicion.

Nota de tercia specie Artis Mathematice, quam Geometriam vocant.941

Mathematique of his science

Hath yit the thridde intelligence

Full of wisdom and of clergie

And cleped is Geometrie,

Thurgh which a man hath thilke sleyhte

Of lengthe, of brede, of depthe, of heyhte 180

To knowe the proporcion

Be verrai calculacion

Of this science: and in this wise

These olde Philosophres wise,

Of al this worldes erthe round,

Hou large, hou thikke was the ground,

Controeveden thexperience;

The cercle and the circumference

Of every thing unto the hevene

Thei setten point and mesure evene.942 190

P. iii. 91

Mathematique above therthe

Of hyh science hath yit the ferthe,

Which spekth upon Astronomie

And techeth of the sterres hihe,

Beginnynge upward fro the mone.

Bot ferst, as it was forto done,

This Aristotle in other thing

Unto this worthi yonge king

The kinde of every element

Which stant under the firmament, 200

Hou it is mad and in what wise,

Fro point to point he gan devise.

[Creation of the Four Elements.]

iii. Quatuor omnipotens elementa creauit origo,

Quatuor et venti partibus ora dabat.

Nostraque quadruplici complexio sorte creatur,

Corpore sicque suo stat variatus homo.

Tofore the creacion

Of eny worldes stacion,

[Pg 239]

Hic interim943 tractat de creacione quatuor Elementorum, scilicet terre, aque, aeris et ignis, necnon et de eorum naturis, nam et singulis proprietates singule attribuuntur.

Of hevene, of erthe, or eke of helle,

So as these olde bokes telle,

As soun tofore the song is set

And yit thei ben togedre knet,

Riht so the hihe pourveance

Tho hadde under his ordinance 210

A gret substance, a gret matiere,

Of which he wolde in his manere

These othre thinges make and forme.

For yit withouten eny forme

Was that matiere universal,

Which hihte Ylem in special.

P. iii. 92

Of Ylem, as I am enformed,

These elementz ben mad and formed,

Of Ylem elementz they hote

After the Scole of Aristote, 220

Of whiche if more I schal reherce,

Foure elementz ther ben diverse.

The ferste of hem men erthe calle,

Nota de Terra, quod est primum elementum.

Which is the lowest of hem alle,

And in his forme is schape round,

Substancial, strong, sadd and sound,

As that which mad is sufficant

To bere up al the remenant.

For as the point in a compas

Stant evene amiddes, riht so was 230

This erthe set and schal abyde,

Philosophus. Vnumquodque naturaliter appetit suum centrum.

That it may swerve to no side,

And hath his centre after the lawe

Of kinde, and to that centre drawe

Desireth every worldes thing,

If ther ne were no lettyng.944

Nota de Aqua, quod est secundum elementum.

Above therthe kepth his bounde

The water, which is the secounde

Of elementz, and al withoute

It environeth therthe aboute. 240

Bot as it scheweth, noght forthi

This soubtil water myhtely,

[Pg 240]

Thogh it be of himselve softe,

The strengthe of therthe perceth ofte;

For riht as veines ben of blod

In man, riht so the water flod

P. iii. 93

Therthe of his cours makth ful of veines,

Als wel the helles as the pleines.

And that a man may sen at ÿe,

For wher the hulles ben most hyhe, 250

Ther mai men welle stremes finde:

So proveth it be weie of kinde

The water heyher than the lond.

Nota de Aere, quod est tercium elementum.

And over this nou understond,

Air is the thridde of elementz,

Of whos kinde his aspirementz

Takth every lifissh creature,945

The which schal upon erthe endure:

For as the fissh, if it be dreie,

Mot in defaute of water deie, 260

Riht so withouten Air on lyve

No man ne beste myhte thryve,946

The which is mad of fleissh and bon;

There is outake of alle non.

Nota qualiter Aer in tribus Periferiis diuiditur.

This Air in Periferies thre

Divided is of such degre,

Benethe is on and on amidde,

To whiche above is set the thridde:

And upon the divisions947

There ben diverse impressions 270

Of moist and ek of drye also,

Whiche of the Sonne bothe tuo

Ben drawe and haled upon hy,

And maken cloudes in the Sky,

As schewed is at mannes sihte;948

Wherof be day and ek be nyhte

P. iii. 94

After the times of the yer

Among ous upon Erthe her

In sondri wise thinges falle.

De prima Aeris Periferia.

The ferste Periferie of alle 280

[Pg 241]

Engendreth Myst and overmore

The dewes and the Frostes hore,

After thilke intersticion

In which thei take impression,

De secunda Aeris Periferia.

Fro the seconde, as bokes sein,

The moiste dropes of the reyn

Descenden into Middilerthe,

And tempreth it to sed and Erthe,

And doth to springe grass and flour.

And ofte also the grete schour 290

Out of such place it mai be take,

That it the forme schal forsake

Of reyn, and into snow be torned;

And ek it mai be so sojorned

In sondri places up alofte,

That into hail it torneth ofte.

De tercia Aeris Periferia.

The thridde of thair after the lawe

Thurgh such matiere as up is drawe949

Of dreie thing, as it is ofte,

Among the cloudes upon lofte,950 300

And is so clos, it may noght oute,—

Thanne is it chased sore aboute,

Til it to fyr and leyt be falle,951

And thanne it brekth the cloudes alle,

The whiche of so gret noyse craken,

That thei the feerful thonder maken.

P. iii. 95

The thonderstrok smit er it leyte,

And yit men sen the fyr and leyte,

The thonderstrok er that men hiere:

So mai it wel be proeved hiere 310

In thing which schewed is fro feer,

A mannes yhe is there nerr

Thanne is the soun to mannes Ere.

And natheles it is gret feere

Bothe of the strok and of the fyr,

Of which is no recoverir

In place wher that thei descende,

Bot if god wolde his grace sende.

[Pg 242]

Nota hic952 qualiter Ignes, quos noctanter in Aere discurrere videmus, secundum varias apparencie formas varia gestant nomina: quorum primus Assub, secundus Capra saliens, tercius Eges et quartus Daali in libris Philosophorum nuncupatus est.

And forto speken over this,

In this partie of thair it is 320

That men fulofte sen be nyhte

The fyr in sondri forme alyhte.

Somtime the fyrdrake it semeth,953

And so the lewed poeple it demeth;

Somtime it semeth as it were

A Sterre, which that glydeth there:

Bot it is nouther of the tuo,

The Philosophre telleth so,

And seith that of impressions

Thurgh diverse exalacions954 330

Upon the cause and the matiere

Men sen diverse forme appiere

Of fyr, the which hath sondri name.

Assub, he seith, is thilke same,

The which in sondry place is founde,

Whanne it is falle doun to grounde,955

P. iii. 96

So as the fyr it hath aneled,

Lich unto slym which is congeled.

Of exalacion I finde956

Fyr kinled of the fame kinde, 340

Bot it is of an other forme;

Wherof, if that I schal conforme

The figure unto that it is,

These olde clerkes tellen this,

That it is lik a Got skippende,

And for that it is such semende,

It hatte Capra saliens.

And ek these Astronomiens

An other fyr also, be nyhte

Which scheweth him to mannes syhte, 350

Thei clepen Eges, the which brenneth

Lik to the corrant fyr that renneth

Upon a corde, as thou hast sein,

[Pg 243]

Whan it with poudre is so besein

Of Sulphre and othre thinges mo.

Ther is an other fyr also,

Which semeth to a mannes yhe

Be nyhtes time as thogh ther flyhe

A dragon brennende in the Sky,

And that is cleped proprely 360

Daaly, wherof men sein fulofte,957

‘Lo, wher the fyri drake alofte

Fleth up in thair!’ and so thei demen.

Bot why the fyres suche semen

Of sondri formes to beholde,958

The wise Philosophre tolde,

P. iii. 97

So as tofore it hath ben herd.

Confessor.

Lo thus, my Sone, hou it hath ferd:959

Of Air the due proprete

In sondri wise thou myht se, 370

And hou under the firmament

It is ek the thridde element,

Which environeth bothe tuo,

The water and the lond also.960

Nota de Igne, quod est quartum elementum.

And forto tellen overthis

Of elementz which the ferthe is,

That is the fyr in his degre,

Which environeth thother thre

And is withoute moist al drye.

Bot lest nou what seith the clergie; 380

For upon hem that I have seid

The creatour hath set and leid

The kinde and the complexion

Of alle mennes nacion.

Foure elementz sondri ther be,

Lich unto whiche of that degre

Among the men ther ben also

Complexions foure and nomo,

Wherof the Philosophre treteth,

That he nothing behinde leteth, 390

And seith hou that thei ben diverse,

[Pg 244]

So as I schal to thee reherse.

[The Four Complexions of Man.]

He which natureth every kinde,961

The myhti god, so as I finde,

Of man, which is his creature,

Nota hic qualiter secundum naturam quatuor elementorum quatuor in humano corpore complexiones, scilicet Malencolia, Fleuma, Sanguis et Colera, naturaliter constituuntur: vnde primo de Malencolia dicendum est.

Hath so devided the nature,

P. iii. 98

That non til other wel acordeth:

And be the cause it so discordeth,

The lif which fieleth the seknesse

Mai stonde upon no sekernesse. 400

Of therthe, which is cold and drye,

The kinde of man Malencolie

Is cleped, and that is the ferste,

The most ungoodlich and the werste;

For unto loves werk on nyht

Him lacketh bothe will and myht:

No wonder is, in lusty place

Of love though he lese grace.

What man hath that complexion,

Full of ymaginacion 410

Of dredes and of wrathful thoghtes,

He fret himselven al to noghtes.

De complexione Fleumatis.

The water, which is moyste and cold,

Makth fleume, which is manyfold

Foryetel, slou and wery sone

Of every thing which is to done:

He is of kinde sufficant

To holde love his covenant,

Bot that him lacketh appetit,

Which longeth unto such delit. 420

De complexione Sanguinis.

What man that takth his kinde of thair,

He schal be lyht, he schal be fair,

For his complexion is blood.

Of alle ther is non so good,

For he hath bothe will and myht

To plese and paie love his riht:

P. iii. 99

Wher as he hath love undertake,

Wrong is if that he be forsake.

De complexione Colere.

The fyr of his condicion962

[Pg 245]

Appropreth the complexion 430

Which in a man is Colre hote,

Whos propretes ben dreie and hote:

It makth a man ben enginous

And swift of fote and ek irous;

Of contek and folhastifnesse

He hath a riht gret besinesse,

To thenke of love and litel may:

Though he behote wel a day,963

On nyht whan that he wole assaie,

He may ful evele his dette paie. 440

Nota qualiter quatuor complexiones quatuor in homine habitaciones diuisim possident.

After the kinde of thelement,

Thus stant a mannes kinde went,

As touchende his complexion,

Upon sondri division

Of dreie, of moiste, of chele, of hete,964

And ech of hem his oghne sete

Appropred hath withinne a man.

And ferst to telle as I began,

Splen domus est965 Malencolie.

The Splen is to Malencolie

Assigned for herbergerie: 450

Pulmo domus966m Fleumatis.

The moiste fleume with his cold966

Hath in the lunges for his hold

Ordeined him a propre stede,

To duelle ther as he is bede:

Epar domus Sanguinis.

To the Sanguin complexion

Nature of hire inspeccion967

P. iii. 100

A propre hous hath in the livere

For his duellinge mad delivere:

Fel domus Colere.

The dreie Colre with his hete

Be weie of kinde his propre sete 460

Hath in the galle, wher he duelleth,

So as the Philosophre telleth.

Nota de Stomacho, qui vna cum aliis cordi968 specialius deseruit.

Nou over this is forto wite,

As it is in Phisique write

Of livere, of lunge, of galle, of splen,

[Pg 246]

Thei alle unto the herte ben

Servantz, and ech in his office

Entendeth to don him service,

As he which is chief lord above.969

The livere makth him forto love, 470

The lunge yifth him weie of speche,

The galle serveth to do wreche,

The Splen doth him to lawhe and pleie,

Whan al unclennesse is aweie:

Lo, thus hath ech of hem his dede.

And to sustienen hem and fede

In time of recreacion,

Nature hath in creacion970

The Stomach for a comun Coc

Ordeined, so as seith the boc.971 480

The Stomach coc is for the halle,

And builleth mete for hem alle,

To make hem myghty forto serve972

The herte, that he schal noght sterve:

For as a king in his Empire

Above alle othre is lord and Sire,

P. iii. 101

So is the herte principal,

To whom reson in special

Is yove as for the governance.

[The Soul of Man.]

And thus nature his pourveance 490

Hath mad for man to liven hiere;

Bot god, which hath the Soule diere,973

Hath formed it in other wise.

That can noman pleinli devise;

Bot as the clerkes ous enforme,

That lich to god it hath a forme,

Thurgh which figure and which liknesse

The Soule hath many an hyh noblesse

Appropred to his oghne kinde.

Bot ofte hir wittes be mad blinde 500

Al onliche of this ilke point,

That hir abydinge is conjoint

[Pg 247]

Forth with the bodi forto duelle:

That on desireth toward helle,

That other upward to the hevene;

So schul thei nevere stonde in evene,

Bot if the fleissh be overcome

And that the Soule have holi nome974

The governance, and that is selde,

Whil that the fleissh him mai bewelde.975 510

Al erthli thing which god began

Was only mad to serve man;

Bot he the Soule al only made

Himselven forto serve and glade.

Alle othre bestes that men finde

Thei serve unto here oghne kinde,

P. iii. 102

Bot to reson the Soule serveth;

Wherof the man his thonk deserveth

And get him with hise werkes goode

The perdurable lyves foode. 520

[The Division of the Earth.]

Of what matiere it schal be told,976

A tale lyketh manyfold

Hic loquitur vlterius de diuisione Terre que post diluuium tribus filiis Noe in tres partes, scilicet Asiam, Affricam et Europam diuidebatur.

The betre, if it be spoke plein:

Thus thinke I forto torne ayein

And telle plenerly therfore977

Of therthe, wherof nou tofore

I spak, and of the water eke,

So as these olde clerkes spieke,978

And sette proprely the bounde

After the forme of Mappemounde, 530

Thurgh which the ground be pourparties

Departed is in thre parties,

That is Asie, Aufrique, Europe,

The whiche under the hevene cope,

Als ferr as streccheth eny ground,

Begripeth al this Erthe round.

Bot after that the hihe wrieche

The water weies let out seche

[Pg 248]

And overgo the helles hye,

Which every kinde made dye 540

That upon Middelerthe stod,979

Outake Noë and his blod,

His Sones and his doughtres thre,

Thei were sauf and so was he;—

Here names who that rede rihte,

Sem, Cam, Japhet the brethren hihte;—980

P. iii. 103

And whanne thilke almyhty hond

Withdrouh the water fro the lond,

And al the rage was aweie,

And Erthe was the mannes weie, 550

The Sones thre, of whiche I tolde,

Riht after that hemselve wolde,981

This world departe thei begonne.

De Asia.

Asie, which lay to the Sonne

Upon the Marche of orient,

Was graunted be comun assent

To Sem, which was the Sone eldeste;

For that partie was the beste

And double as moche as othre tuo.

And was that time bounded so; 560

Wher as the flod which men Nil calleth

Departeth fro his cours and falleth

Into the See Alexandrine,

Ther takth Asie ferst seisine

Toward the West, and over this

Of Canahim wher the flod is

Into the grete See rennende,

Fro that into the worldes ende

Estward, Asie it is algates,

Til that men come unto the gates 570

Of Paradis, and there ho.

And schortly for to speke it so,

Of Orient in general

Withinne his bounde Asie hath al.

De Aufrica982 et Europa.

And thanne upon that other syde

[Pg 249]

Westward, as it fell thilke tyde,

P. iii. 104

The brother which was hote Cham

Upon his part Aufrique nam.983

Japhet Europe tho tok he,

Thus parten thei the world on thre. 580

Bot yit ther ben of londes fele

In occident as for the chele,

In orient as for the hete,

Which of the poeple be forlete984

As lond desert that is unable,

For it mai noght ben habitable.

Nota de mari quod magnum Occeanum dicitur.

The water eke hath sondri bounde,

After the lond wher it is founde,

And takth his name of thilke londes

Wher that it renneth on the strondes: 590

Bot thilke See which hath no wane

Is cleped the gret Occeane,

Out of the which arise and come

The hyhe flodes alle and some;

Is non so litel welle spring,

Which ther ne takth his beginnyng,

And lich a man that haleth breth985

Be weie of kinde, so it geth

Out of the See and in ayein,

The water, as the bokes sein. 600

Nota hic secundum philosophum de quinto Elemento, quod omnia sub celo creata infra suum ambitum continet, cui nomen Orbis specialiter appropriatum est.

Of Elementz the propretes

Hou that they stonden be degres,

As I have told, nou myht thou hiere,

Mi goode Sone, al the matiere

Of Erthe, of water, Air and fyr.

And for thou saist that thi desir

P. iii. 105

Is forto witen overmore

The forme of Aristotles lore,

He seith in his entendement,

That yit ther is an Element 610

Above the foure, and is the fifte,

Set of the hihe goddes yifte,

The which that Orbis cleped is.

[Pg 250]

And therupon he telleth this,

That as the schelle hol and sound

Encloseth al aboute round

What thing withinne an Ey belongeth,

Riht so this Orbis underfongeth

These elementz alle everychon,

Which I have spoke of on and on.986 620

Bot overthis nou tak good hiede,987

Mi Sone, for I wol procede

To speke upon Mathematique,

Which grounded is on Theorique.

The science of Astronomie

I thinke forto specefie,

Withoute which, to telle plein,

Alle othre science is in vein988

Toward the scole of erthli thinges:

For as an Egle with his winges 630

Fleth above alle that men finde,

So doth this science in his kinde.

[Astronomy.]

iv. Lege planetarum magis inferiora reguntur,

Ista set interdum regula fallit opus.

Vir mediante deo sapiens dominabitur astris,

Fata nec immerito quid nouitatis agunt.989

P. iii. 106

Benethe upon this Erthe hiere

Of alle thinges the matiere,

Hic loquitur de Artis Mathematice quarta specie, que Astronomia nuncupata est, cui eciam Astrologia socia connumeratur: set primo de septem planetis, que inter astra potenciores existunt, incipiendo a luna seorsum tractare intendit.

As tellen ous thei that ben lerned,

Of thing above it stant governed,

That is to sein of the Planetes.

The cheles bothe and ek the hetes,

The chances of the world also,

That we fortune clepen so, 640

Among the mennes nacion

Al is thurgh constellacion,

Wherof that som man hath the wele,

And som man hath deseses fele

In love als wel as othre thinges;

[Pg 251]

The stat of realmes and of kinges

In time of pes, in time of werre

It is conceived of the Sterre:

And thus seith the naturien

Which is an Astronomien. 650

Bot the divin seith otherwise,

That if men weren goode and wise

And plesant unto the godhede,

Thei scholden noght the sterres drede;

For o man, if him wel befalle,

Is more worth than ben thei alle

Towardes him that weldeth al.

Bot yit the lawe original,

Which he hath set in the natures,

Mot worchen in the creatures, 660

That therof mai be non obstacle,

Bot if it stonde upon miracle

P. iii. 107

Thurgh preiere of som holy man.

And forthi, so as I began

To speke upon Astronomie,

As it is write in the clergie,

To telle hou the planetes fare,

Som part I thenke to declare,

Mi Sone, unto thin Audience.

Astronomie is the science 670

Of wisdom and of hih connynge,

Which makth a man have knowlechinge990

Of Sterres in the firmament,

Figure, cercle and moevement

Of ech of hem in sondri place,

And what betwen hem is of space,

Hou so thei moeve or stonde faste,

Al this it telleth to the laste.

Assembled with Astronomie

Is ek that ilke Astrologie, 680

The which in juggementz acompteth

Theffect, what every sterre amonteth,

And hou thei causen many a wonder

To tho climatz that stonde hem under.991

[Pg 252]

[Planets and Signs.]

And forto telle it more plein,992

These olde philosophres sein

That Orbis, which I spak of err,

Is that which we fro therthe a ferr

Beholde, and firmament it calle,

In which the sterres stonden alle, 690

Among the whiche in special

Planetes sefne principal

P. iii. 108

Ther ben, that mannes sihte demeth,

Bot thorizonte, as to ous semeth.993

And also ther ben signes tuelve,

Whiche have her cercles be hemselve

Compassed in the zodiaque,

In which thei have here places take.

And as thei stonden in degre,

Here cercles more or lasse be, 700

Mad after the proporcion

Of therthe, whos condicion

Is set to be the foundement

To sustiene up the firmament.

And be this skile a man mai knowe,

The more that thei stonden lowe,

The more ben the cercles lasse;

That causeth why that some passe

Here due cours tofore an other.

Bot nou, mi lieve dere brother, 710

As thou desirest forto wite

What I finde in the bokes write,

To telle of the planetes sevene,

Hou that thei stonde upon the hevene

And in what point that thei ben inne,

Tak hiede, for I wol beginne,

So as the Philosophre tauhte994

To Alisandre and it betauhte,

Wherof that he was fulli tawht

Of wisdom, which was him betawht. 720

Benethe alle othre stant the Mone,

[Pg 253]

[The Planets.]

The which hath with the See to done:

Nota hic de prima planeta, que aliis inferior Luna dicitur.

P. iii. 109

Of flodes hihe and ebbes lowe

Upon his change it schal be knowe;995

And every fissh which hath a schelle

Mot in his governance duelle,

To wexe and wane in his degre,

As be the Mone a man mai se;

And al that stant upon the grounde

Of his moisture it mot be founde. 730

Alle othre sterres, as men finde,

Be schynende of here oghne kinde

Outake only the monelyht,

Which is noght of himselve bright,

Bot as he takth it of the Sonne.

And yit he hath noght al fulwonne996

His lyht, that he nys somdiel derk;

Bot what the lette is of that werk

In Almageste it telleth this:

The Mones cercle so lowe is, 740

Wherof the Sonne out of his stage

Ne seth him noght with full visage,

For he is with the ground beschaded,

So that the Mone is somdiel faded

And may noght fully schyne cler.

Bot what man under his pouer

Is bore, he schal his places change

And seche manye londes strange:

And as of this condicion

The Mones disposicion 750

Upon the lond of Alemaigne

Is set, and ek upon Bretaigne,

P. iii. 110

Which nou is cleped Engelond;

For thei travaile in every lond.

De secunda planeta, que Mercurius dicitur.

Of the Planetes the secounde

Above the Mone hath take his bounde,

Mercurie, and his nature is this,

That under him who that bore is,

In boke he schal be studious

And in wrytinge curious, 760

And slouh and lustles to travaile[Pg 254]

In thing which elles myhte availe:

He loveth ese, he loveth reste,

So is he noght the worthieste;

Bot yit with somdiel besinesse

His herte is set upon richesse.

And as in this condicion,

Theffect and disposicion

Of this Planete and of his chance997

Is most in Burgoigne and in France. 770

De tercia planeta, que Venus dicitur.

Next to Mercurie, as wol befalle,

Stant that Planete which men calle

Venus, whos constellacion

Governeth al the nacion

Of lovers, wher thei spiede or non,

Of whiche I trowe thou be on:

Bot whiderward thin happes wende,

Schal this planete schewe at ende,

As it hath do to many mo,

To some wel, to some wo. 780

And natheles of this Planete

The moste part is softe and swete;

P. iii. 111

For who that therof takth his berthe,

He schal desire joie and merthe,

Gentil, courteis and debonaire,

To speke his wordes softe and faire,

Such schal he be be weie of kinde,

And overal wher he may finde

Plesance of love, his herte boweth

With al his myht and there he woweth. 790

He is so ferforth Amourous,

He not what thing is vicious

Touchende love, for that lawe

Ther mai no maner man withdrawe,

The which venerien is bore

Be weie of kinde, and therefore

Venus of love the goddesse

Is cleped: bot of wantounesse998

[Pg 255]

The climat of hir lecherie

Is most commun in Lombardie. 800

Nota de Sole, qui medio planetarum residens Astrorum principatum obtinet.

Next unto this Planete of love

The brighte Sonne stant above,

Which is the hindrere of the nyht

And forthrere of the daies lyht,

As he which is the worldes ÿe,

Thurgh whom the lusti compaignie

Of foules be the morwe singe,

The freisshe floures sprede and springe,

The hihe tre the ground beschadeth,

And every mannes herte gladeth. 810

And for it is the hed Planete,

Hou that he sitteth in his sete,

P. iii. 112

Of what richesse, of what nobleie,

These bokes telle, and thus thei seie.

Nota de curru Solis necnon et de vario eiusdem apparatu.

Of gold glistrende Spoke and whiel

The Sonne his carte hath faire and wiel,

In which he sitt, and is coroned

With brighte stones environed;

Of whiche if that I speke schal,

Ther be tofore in special 820

Set in the front of his corone

Thre Stones, whiche no persone

Hath upon Erthe, and the ferste is

Be name cleped Licuchis;

That othre tuo be cleped thus,

Astrices and Ceramius.

In his corone also behinde,

Be olde bokes as I finde,

Ther ben of worthi Stones thre

Set ech of hem in his degre: 830

Wherof a Cristall is that on,

Which that corone is set upon;

The seconde is an Adamant;

The thridde is noble and avenant,

Which cleped is Ydriades.

And over this yit natheles

Upon the sydes of the werk,

[Pg 256]

After the wrytinge of the clerk,

Ther sitten fyve Stones mo:

The smaragdine is on of tho, 840

Jaspis and Elitropius

And Dendides and Jacinctus,

P. iii. 113

Lo, thus the corone is beset,

Wherof it schyneth wel the bet;

And in such wise his liht to sprede

Sit with his Diademe on hede

The Sonne schynende in his carte.

And forto lede him swithe and smarte

After the bryhte daies lawe,

Ther ben ordeined forto drawe 850

Foure hors his Char and him withal,

Wherof the names telle I schal:

Eritheüs the ferste is hote,

The which is red and schyneth hote,

The seconde Acteos the bryhte,

Lampes the thridde coursier hihte,

And Philogeüs is the ferthe,

That bringen lyht unto this erthe,

And gon so swift upon the hevene,

In foure and twenty houres evene 860

The carte with the bryhte Sonne

Thei drawe, so that overronne

Thei have under the cercles hihe

Al Middelerthe in such an hye.

And thus the Sonne is overal

The chief Planete imperial,

Above him and benethe him thre:

And thus betwen hem regneth he,

As he that hath the middel place

Among the Sevene, and of his face 870

Be glade alle erthly creatures,

And taken after the natures

P. iii. 114

Here ese and recreacion.

And in his constellacion

Who that is bore in special,

Of good will and of liberal

He schal be founde in alle place,

[Pg 257]

And also stonde in mochel grace

Toward the lordes forto serve

And gret profit and thonk deserve. 880

And over that it causeth yit

A man to be soubtil of wit

To worche in gold, and to be wys

In every thing which is of pris.

Bot forto speken in what cost

Of al this erthe he regneth most

As for wisdom, it is in Grece,

Wher is apropred thilke spiece.

Nota de quinta planeta, que Mars dicitur.

Mars the Planete bataillous

Next to the Sonne glorious 890

Above stant, and doth mervailes

Upon the fortune of batailes.

The conquerours be daies olde

Were unto this planete holde:

Bot who that his nativite

Hath take upon the proprete

Of Martes disposicioun

Be weie of constellacioun,

He schal be fiers and folhastif

And desirous of werre and strif. 900

Bot forto telle redely

In what climat most comunly

P. iii. 115

That this planete hath his effect,

Seid is that he hath his aspect

Upon the holi lond so cast,

That there is no pes stedefast.

Nota de sexta planeta, que Iupiter dicitur.

Above Mars upon the hevene,

The sexte Planete of the sevene,

Stant Jupiter the delicat,

Which causeth pes and no debar. 910

For he is cleped that Planete999

Which of his kinde softe and swete

Attempreth al that to him longeth;

And whom this planete underfongeth

To stonde upon his regiment,

He schal be meke and pacient

[Pg 258]

And fortunat to Marchandie

And lusti to delicacie

In every thing which he schal do.

This Jupiter is cause also 920

Of the science of lyhte werkes,

And in this wise tellen clerkes

He is the Planete of delices.

Bot in Egipte of his offices

He regneth most in special:

For ther be lustes overal

Of al that to this lif befalleth;

For ther no stormy weder falleth,

Which myhte grieve man or beste,

And ek the lond is so honeste 930

That it is plentevous and plein,

Ther is non ydel ground in vein;

P. iii. 116

And upon such felicite1000

Stant Jupiter in his degre.

De septima planeta, que reliquis celsior Saturnus dictus est.1001

The heyeste and aboven alle

Stant that planete which men calle1002

Saturnus, whos complexion

Is cold, and his condicion

Causeth malice and crualte

To him the whos nativite 940

Is set under his governance.

For alle hise werkes ben grevance

And enemy to mannes hele,

In what degre that he schal dele.

His climat is in Orient,

Wher that he is most violent.

Of the Planetes by and by,

Hou that thei stonde upon the Sky,

Fro point to point as thou myht hiere,

Was Alisandre mad to liere. 950

Bot overthis touchende his lore,

Of thing that thei him tawhte more

Upon the scoles of clergie

Now herkne the Philosophie.

[Pg 259]

[The Signs.]

He which departeth dai fro nyht,

Postquam dictum est de vii. Planetis, quibus singuli septimane dies singulariter attitulantur, dicendum est iam de xii. Signis, per que xii. Menses Anni variis temporibus effectus varios assequntur.1004

That on derk and that other lyht,1003

Of sevene daies made a weke,

A Monthe of foure wekes eke

He hath ordeigned in his lawe,

Of Monthes tuelve and ek forthdrawe 960

He hath also the longe yeer.

And as he sette of his pouer

P. iii. 117

Acordant to the daies sevene

Planetes Sevene upon the hevene,

As thou tofore hast herd devise,

To speke riht in such a wise,

To every Monthe be himselve

Upon the hevene of Signes tuelve

He hath after his Ordinal

Assigned on in special, 970

Wherof, so as I schal rehersen,

The tydes of the yer diversen.

Bot pleinly forto make it knowe

Hou that the Signes sitte arowe,

Ech after other be degre

In substance and in proprete

The zodiaque comprehendeth

Withinne his cercle, as it appendeth.1005

Nota hic de primo Signo, quod Aries dicitur, cui Mensis Marcii specialiter appropriatus est.
Quo deus in primo produxit ad esse1006 creata.

The ferste of whiche natheles1007

Be name is cleped Aries, 980

Which lich a wether of stature

Resembled is in his figure.

And as it seith in Almageste,

Of Sterres tuelve upon this beste1008

Ben set, wherof in his degre

The wombe hath tuo, the heved hath thre,

The Tail hath sevene, and in this wise,

As thou myht hiere me divise,

Stant Aries, which hot and drye

Is of himself, and in partie 990

[Pg 260]

P. iii. 118

He is the receipte and the hous

Of myhty Mars the bataillous.

And overmore ek, as I finde,

The creatour of alle kinde

Upon this Signe ferst began

The world, whan that he made man.

And of this constellacioun

The verray operacioun

Availeth, if a man therinne

The pourpos of his werk beginne; 1000

For thanne he hath of proprete

Good sped and gret felicite.

The tuelve Monthes of the yeer

Attitled under the pouer

Of these tuelve Signes stonde;

Wherof that thou schalt understonde

This Aries on of the tuelve1009

Hath March attitled for himselve,

Whan every bridd schal chese his make,

And every neddre and every Snake 1010

And every Reptil which mai moeve,

His myht assaieth forto proeve,

To crepen out ayein the Sonne,

Whan Ver his Seson hath begonne.

Secundum Signum dicitur Taurus, cuius Mensis est Aprilis.
Quo prius occultas inuenit herba vias.

Taurus the seconde after this

Of Signes, which figured is

Unto a Bole, is dreie and cold;1010

And as it is in bokes told,

P. iii. 119

He is the hous appourtienant1011

To Venus, somdiel descordant. 1020

This Bole is ek with sterres set,

Thurgh whiche he hath hise hornes knet

Unto the tail of Aries,

So is he noght ther sterreles.

Upon his brest ek eyhtetiene

He hath, and ek, as it is sene,

Upon his tail stonde othre tuo.1012

[Pg 261]

His Monthe assigned ek also

Is Averil, which of his schoures

Ministreth weie unto the floures. 1030

Tercium Signum dicitur Gemini, cuius Mensis Maiius est.
Quo volucrum cantus gaudet de floribus ortis.

The thridde signe is Gemini,

Which is figured redely

Lich to tuo twinnes of mankinde,1013

That naked stonde; and as I finde,

Thei be with Sterres wel bego:

The heved hath part of thilke tuo

That schyne upon the boles tail,

So be thei bothe of o parail;

But on the wombe of Gemini

Ben fyve sterres noght forthi, 1040

And ek upon the feet be tweie,

So as these olde bokes seie,

That wise Tholomeüs wrot.

His propre Monthe wel I wot1014

Assigned is the lusti Maii,

Whanne every brid upon his lay

P. iii. 120

Among the griene leves singeth,

And love of his pointure stingeth

After the lawes of nature

The youthe of every creature. 1050

Quartum Signum Cancer dicitur, cuius Mensis Iunius est.
Quo falcat pratis pabula tonsor equis.

Cancer after the reule and space

Of Signes halt the ferthe place.

Like to the crabbe he hath semblance,

And hath unto his retienance

Sextiene sterres, wherof ten,

So as these olde wise men

Descrive, he berth on him tofore,

And in the middel tuo be bore,1015

And foure he hath upon his ende.

Thus goth he sterred in his kende, 1060

And of himself is moiste and cold,

And is the propre hous and hold

Which appartieneth to the Mone,

[Pg 262]

And doth what longeth him to done.

The Monthe of Juin unto this Signe

Thou schalt after the reule assigne.

Quintum signum Leo dicitur, cuius Mensis Iulius est.
Quo magis ad terras expandit Lucifer ignes.

The fifte Signe is Leo hote,

Whos kinde is schape dreie and hote,

In whom the Sonne hath herbergage.

And the semblance of his ymage 1070

Is a leoun, which in baillie

Of sterres hath his pourpartie:

The foure, which as Cancer hath

Upon his ende, Leo tath

P. iii. 121

Upon his heved, and thanne nest

He hath ek foure upon his brest,

And on upon his tail behinde,

In olde bokes as we finde.

His propre Monthe is Juyl be name,1016

In which men pleien many a game. 1080

Sextum Signum Virgo dicitur, cuius Mensis Augustus est.
Quo vacuata prius pubes replet horrea messis.

After Leo Virgo the nexte

Of Signes cleped is the sexte,

Wherof the figure is a Maide;

And as the Philosophre saide,

Sche is the welthe and the risinge,

The lust, the joie and the likinge

Unto Mercurie: and soth to seie

Sche is with sterres wel beseie,

Wherof Leo hath lent hire on,

Which sit on hih hir heved upon, 1090

Hire wombe hath fyve, hir feet also

Have other fyve: and overmo

Touchende as of complexion,

Be kindly disposicion

Of dreie and cold this Maiden is.1017

And forto tellen over this

Hir Monthe, thou schalt understonde,

Whan every feld hath corn in honde

And many a man his bak hath plied,

[Pg 263]

Unto this Signe is Augst applied.1018 1100

Septimum Signum Libra dicitur, cuius Mensis Septembris est.
Vinea quo Bachum pressa liquore colit.

After Virgo to reknen evene

Libra sit in the nombre of sevene,

P. iii. 122

Which hath figure and resemblance

Unto a man which a balance

Berth in his hond as forto weie:

In boke and as it mai be seie,

Diverse sterres to him longeth,

Wherof on hevede he underfongeth

Ferst thre, and ek his wombe hath tuo,

And doun benethe eighte othre mo. 1110

This Signe is hot and moiste bothe,

The whiche thinges be noght lothe

Unto Venus, so that alofte

Sche resteth in his hous fulofte,

And ek Saturnus often hyed

Is in this Signe and magnefied.1019

His propre Monthe is seid Septembre,

Which yifth men cause to remembre,

If eny Sor be left behinde

Of thing which grieve mai to kinde. 1120

Octauum Signum Scorpio dicitur, cuius Mensis October est.
Floribus exclusis yemis qui ianitor extat.

Among the Signes upon heighte

The Signe which is nombred eighte

Is Scorpio, which as feloun

Figured is a Scorpioun.

Bot for al that yit natheles

Is Scorpio noght sterreles;

For Libra granteth him his ende

Of eighte sterres, wher he wende,

The whiche upon his heved assised

He berth, and ek ther ben divised 1130

P. iii. 123

Upon his wombe sterres thre,

And eighte upon his tail hath he.

Which of his kinde is moiste and cold

And unbehovely manyfold;

He harmeth Venus and empeireth,

Bot Mars unto his hous repeireth,

Bot war whan thei togedre duellen.

[Pg 264]

His propre Monthe is, as men tellen,

Octobre, which bringth the kalende

Of wynter, that comth next suiende. 1140

Nonum signum Sagittarius dicitur, cuius Mensis Nouember est.
Quo mustum bibulo linquit sua nomina vino.

The nynthe Signe in nombre also,

Which folweth after Scorpio,

Is cleped Sagittarius,

The whos figure is marked thus,

A Monstre with a bowe on honde:

On whom that sondri sterres stonde,

Thilke eighte of whiche I spak tofore,

The whiche upon the tail ben bore1020

Of Scorpio, the heved al faire

Bespreden of the Sagittaire; 1150

And eighte of othre stonden evene

Upon his wombe, and othre sevene

Ther stonde upon his tail behinde.

And he is hot and dreie of kinde:

To Jupiter his hous is fre,

Bot to Mercurie in his degre,

For thei ben noght of on assent,

He worcheth gret empeirement.

P. iii. 124

This Signe hath of his proprete

A Monthe, which of duete 1160

After the sesoun that befalleth

The Plowed Oxe in wynter stalleth;

And fyr into the halle he bringeth,1021

And thilke drinke of which men singeth,

He torneth must into the wyn;

Thanne is the larder of the swyn;

That is Novembre which I meene,

Whan that the lef hath lost his greene.

Decimum Signum Capricornus dicitur, cuius Mensis December est.
Ipse diem Nano noctemque Gigante figurat.

The tenthe Signe dreie and cold,

The which is Capricornus told, 1170

Unto a Got hath resemblance:

For whos love and whos aqueintance

Withinne hise houses to sojorne

It liketh wel unto Satorne,

Bot to the Mone it liketh noght,

[Pg 265]

For no profit is there wroght.

This Signe as of his proprete

Upon his heved hath sterres thre,

And ek upon his wombe tuo,

And tweie upon his tail also. 1180

Decembre after the yeeres forme,1022

So as the bokes ous enforme,

With daies schorte and nyhtes longe

This ilke Signe hath underfonge.

Vndecimum Signum Aquarius dicitur, cuius Mensis Ianuarius est.
Quo Ianus vultum duplum conuertit in annum.

Of tho that sitte upon the hevene

Of Signes in the nombre ellevene

P. iii. 125

Aquarius hath take his place,

And stant wel in Satornes grace,

Which duelleth in his herbergage,

Bot to the Sonne he doth oultrage. 1190

This Signe is verraily resembled

Lich to a man which halt assembled

In eyther hand a water spoute,

Wherof the stremes rennen oute.

He is of kinde moiste and hot,

And he that of the sterres wot

Seith that he hath of sterres tuo

Upon his heved, and ben of tho

That Capricorn hath on his ende;

And as the bokes maken mende, 1200

That Tholomeüs made himselve,

He hath ek on his wombe tuelve,

And tweie upon his ende stonde.

Thou schalt also this understonde,

The frosti colde Janever,

Whan comen is the newe yeer,

That Janus with his double face

In his chaiere hath take his place

And loketh upon bothe sides,

Somdiel toward the wynter tydes, 1210

Somdiel toward the yeer suiende,

That is the Monthe belongende

Unto this Signe, and of his dole

[Pg 266]

He yifth the ferste Primerole.

Duodecimum Signum Piscis dicitur, cuius Mensis Februarius est.
Quo pluuie torrens riparum concitat ampnes.

P. iii. 126

The tuelfthe, which is last of alle

Of Signes, Piscis men it calle,

The which, as telleth the scripture,

Berth of tuo fisshes the figure.

So is he cold and moiste of kinde,

And ek with sterres, as I finde, 1220

Beset in sondri wise, as thus:

Tuo of his ende Aquarius

Hath lent unto his heved, and tuo1023

This Signe hath of his oghne also

Upon his wombe, and over this

Upon his ende also ther is

A nombre of twenty sterres bryghte,

Which is to sen a wonder sighte.

Toward this Signe into his hous1024

Comth Jupiter the glorious, 1230

And Venus ek with him acordeth

To duellen, as the bok recordeth.

The Monthe unto this Signe ordeined

Is Februer, which is bereined,

And with londflodes in his rage

At Fordes letteth the passage.

Nou hast thou herd the proprete

Of Signes, bot in his degre

Albumazar yit over this

Seith, so as therthe parted is 1240

In foure, riht so ben divised

The Signes tuelve and stonde assised,

That ech of hem for his partie

Hath his climat to justefie.

P. iii. 127

Wherof the ferste regiment

Toward the part of Orient

From Antioche and that contre

Governed is of Signes thre,

That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo:

And toward Occident also 1250

From Armenie, as I am lerned,

[Pg 267]

Of Capricorn it stant governed,

Of Pisces and Aquarius:

And after hem I finde thus,

Southward from Alisandre forth

Tho Signes whiche most ben worth

In governance of that doaire,

Libra thei ben and Sagittaire

With Scorpio, which is conjoint

With hem to stonde upon that point:1025 1260

Constantinople the Cite,1026

So as the bokes tellen me,

The laste of this division

Stant untoward Septemtrion,

Wher as be weie of pourveance

Hath Aries the governance1027

Forth with Taurus and Gemini.

Thus ben the Signes propreli

Divided, as it is reherced,

Wherof the londes ben diversed. 1270

Confessor.

Lo thus, mi Sone, as thou myht hiere,

Was Alisandre mad to liere

Of hem that weren for his lore.

But nou to loken overmore,

P. iii. 128

Of othre sterres hou thei fare

I thenke hierafter to declare,

So as king Alisandre in youthe

Of him that suche thinges couthe

Enformed was tofore his yhe

Be nyhte upon the sterres hihe.1028 1280

[The Fifteen Stars.]

Upon sondri creacion

Stant sondri operacion,

Hic tractat super doctrina Nectanabi, dum ipse iuuenem Alexandrum instruxit, de illis precipue xv. stellis vna cum earum lapidibus et herbis, que ad artis magice naturalis operacionem specialius conueniunt.

Som worcheth this, som worcheth that;

The fyr is hot in his astat

And brenneth what he mai atteigne,

The water mai the fyr restreigne,

The which is cold and moist also.1029

Of other thing it farth riht so

[Pg 268]

Upon this erthe among ous here;

And forto speke in this manere, 1290

Upon the hevene, as men mai finde,

The sterres ben of sondri kinde

And worchen manye sondri thinges

To ous, that ben here underlinges.

Among the whiche forth withal

Nectanabus in special,

Which was an Astronomien

And ek a gret Magicien,

And undertake hath thilke emprise

To Alisandre in his aprise 1300

As of Magique naturel

To knowe, enformeth him somdel

Of certein sterres what thei mene;

Of whiche, he seith, ther ben fiftene,

P. iii. 129

And sondrily to everich on

A gras belongeth and a Ston,

Wherof men worchen many a wonder

To sette thing bothe up and under.

Prima Stella vocatur Aldeboran, cuius lapis Carbunculus et herba Anabulla est.

To telle riht as he began,

The ferste sterre Aldeboran, 1310

The cliereste and the moste of alle,

Be rihte name men it calle;

Which lich is of condicion

To Mars, and of complexion

To Venus, and hath therupon

Carbunculum his propre Ston:

His herbe is Anabulla named,

Which is of gret vertu proclamed.

Secunda stella vocatur Clota seu Pliades, cuius lapis Cristallum et herba Feniculus est.

The seconde is noght vertules;

Clota or elles Pliades 1320

It hatte, and of the mones kinde1030

He is, and also this I finde,

He takth of Mars complexion:

And lich to such condicion

His Ston appropred is Cristall,

And ek his herbe in special

The vertuous Fenele it is.

[Pg 269]

Tercia Stella vocatur Algol, cuius lapis Dyamans et herba Eleborum nigrum est.

The thridde, which comth after this,

Is hote Algol the clere rede,

Which of Satorne, as I may rede, 1330

His kinde takth, and ek of Jove

Complexion to his behove.

His propre Ston is Dyamant,

Which is to him most acordant;

P. iii. 130

His herbe, which is him betake,

Is hote Eleborum the blake.

Quarta Stella vocatur Alhaiot, cuius lapis Saphirus et herba Marrubium est.

So as it falleth upon lot,

The ferthe sterre is Alhaiot,

Which in the wise as I seide er

Of Satorne and of Jupiter 1340

Hath take his kinde; and therupon

The Saphir is his propre Ston,

Marrubium his herbe also,

The whiche acorden bothe tuo.

Quinta Stella vocatur Canis maior, cuius lapis Berillus1031 et herba Savina est.

And Canis maior in his like

The fifte sterre is of Magique,

The whos kinde is venerien,

As seith this Astronomien.

His propre Ston is seid Berille,

Bot forto worche and to fulfille 1350

Thing which to this science falleth,

Ther is an herbe which men calleth

Saveine, and that behoveth nede

To him that wole his pourpos spede.

Sexta Stella vocatur Canis minor, cuius lapis Achates et herba Primula est.

The sexte suiende after this

Be name Canis minor is;

The which sterre is Mercurial

Be weie of kinde, and forth withal,

As it is writen in the carte,

Complexion he takth of Marte. 1360

His Ston and herbe, as seith the Scole,1032

Ben Achates and Primerole.

Septima Stella vocatur Arial, cuius lapis Gorgonza et herba Celidonia est.

The sefnthe sterre in special

Of this science is Arial,

P. iii. 131

Which sondri nature underfongeth.

[Pg 270]

The Ston which propre unto him longeth,

Gorgonza proprely it hihte:

His herbe also, which he schal rihte

Upon the worchinge as I mene,

Is Celidoine freissh and grene. 1370

Octaua stella vocatur Ala Corui, cuius lapis Honochinus1033 et herba Lapacia est.

Sterre Ala Corvi upon heihte

Hath take his place in nombre of eighte,

Which of his kinde mot parforne

The will of Marte and of Satorne:

To whom Lapacia the grete

Is herbe, hot of no beyete;

His Ston is Honochinus hote,

Thurgh which men worchen gret riote.

Nona stella vocatur Alaezel, cuius lapis Smaragdus et herba Salgea est.

The nynthe sterre faire and wel

Be name is hote Alaezel, 1380

Which takth his propre kinde thus

Bothe of Mercurie and of Venus.

His Ston is the grene Amyraude,1034

To whom is yoven many a laude:

Salge is his herbe appourtenant

Aboven al the remenant.

Decima stella vocatur Almareth, cuius lapis Iaspis et herba Plantago est.

The tenthe sterre is Almareth,

Which upon lif and upon deth

Thurgh kinde of Jupiter and Mart

He doth what longeth to his part. 1390

His Ston is Jaspe, and of Planteine

He hath his herbe sovereine.

Vndecima Stella vocatur Venenas, cuius lapis Adamans et herba Cicorea est.

The sterre ellefthe is Venenas,1035

The whos nature is as it was

P. iii. 132

Take of Venus and of the Mone,

In thing which he hath forto done.

Of Adamant is that perrie

In which he worcheth his maistrie;

Thilke herbe also which him befalleth,

Cicorea the bok it calleth.1036 1400

Duodecima stella vocatur Alpheta, cuius lapis Topazion1037 et herba Rosa marina est.

Alpheta in the nombre sit,

And is the twelfthe sterre yit;

[Pg 271]

Of Scorpio which is governed,

And takth his kinde, as I am lerned;

And hath his vertu in the Ston

Which cleped is Topazion:1038

His herbe propre is Rosmarine,

Which schapen is for his covine.

Terciadecima stella vocatur Cor Scorpionis, cuius lapis Sardis et herba Aristologia1039 est.

Of these sterres, whiche I mene,

Cor Scorpionis is thritiene; 1410

The whos nature Mart and Jove

Have yoven unto his behove.

His herbe is Aristologie,1040

Which folweth his Astronomie:

The Ston which that this sterre alloweth,

Is Sardis, which unto him boweth.

Quartadecima stella vocatur Botercadent, cuius lapis Crisolitus et herba Satureia est.

The sterre which stant next the laste,

Nature on him this name caste

And clepeth him Botercadent;

Which of his kinde obedient 1420

Is to Mercurie and to Venus.

His Ston is seid Crisolitus,

His herbe is cleped Satureie,

So as these olde bokes seie.

P. iii. 133

Quintadecima stella vocatur Cauda Scorpionis, cuius lapis Calcedonia et herba Maiorana est.

Bot nou the laste sterre of alle

The tail of Scorpio men calle,

Which to Mercurie and to Satorne

Be weie of kinde mot retorne

After the preparacion

Of due constellacion. 1430

The Calcedoine unto him longeth,

Which for his Ston he underfongeth;

Of Majorane his herbe is grounded.

Thus have I seid hou thei be founded,

Of every sterre in special,

Which hath his herbe and Ston withal,

As Hermes in his bokes olde

Witnesse berth of that I tolde.

[Pg 272]

[Authors of the Science of Astronomy.]

The science of Astronomie,

Which principal is of clergie 1440

Nota hic de Auctoribus illis, qui ad Astronomie scienciam pre ceteris studiosius intendentes libros super hoc distinctis nominibus composuerunt.

To dieme betwen wo and wel

In thinges that be naturel,

Thei hadde a gret travail on honde1041

That made it ferst ben understonde;

And thei also which overmore

Here studie sette upon this lore,

Thei weren gracious and wys

And worthi forto bere a pris.

And whom it liketh forto wite

Of hem that this science write, 1450

On of the ferste which it wrot

After Noë, it was Nembrot,

To his disciple Ychonithon

And made a bok forth therupon

P. iii. 134

The which Megaster cleped was.

An other Auctor in this cas

Is Arachel, the which men note;

His bok is Abbategnyh hote.

Danz Tholome is noght the leste,

Which makth the bok of Almageste; 1460

And Alfraganus doth the same,

Whos bok is Chatemuz be name.

Gebuz and Alpetragus eke

Of Planisperie, which men seke,1042

The bokes made: and over this

Ful many a worthi clerc ther is,

That writen upon this clergie

The bokes of Altemetrie,

Planemetrie and ek also,

Whiche as belongen bothe tuo, 1470

So as thei ben naturiens,

Unto these Astronomiens.

Men sein that Habraham was on;1043

Bot whether that he wrot or non,

That finde I noght; and Moïses

Ek was an other: bot Hermes

[Pg 273]

Above alle othre in this science1044

He hadde a gret experience;

Thurgh him was many a sterre assised,

Whos bokes yit ben auctorized. 1480

I mai noght knowen alle tho

That writen in the time tho

Of this science; bot I finde,

Of jugement be weie of kinde

P. iii. 135

That in o point thei alle acorden:

Of sterres whiche thei recorden

That men mai sen upon the hevene,

Ther ben a thousend sterres evene

And tuo and twenty, to the syhte

Whiche aren of hemself so bryhte,1045 1490

That men mai dieme what thei be,

The nature and the proprete.

Nou hast thou herd, in which a wise1046

These noble Philosophres wise

Enformeden this yonge king,

And made him have a knowleching

Of thing which ferst to the partie

Belongeth of Philosophie,

Which Theorique cleped is,

As thou tofore hast herd er this. 1500

Bot nou to speke of the secounde,

Which Aristotle hath also founde,

And techeth hou to speke faire,

Which is a thing full necessaire

To contrepeise the balance,

Wher lacketh other sufficance.

[ii. Rhetoric.]

v. Compositi pulcra sermonis verba placere1047

Principio poterunt, veraque fine placent.

Herba, lapis, sermo, tria sunt virtute repleta,

Vis tamen ex verbi pondere plura facit.1048

Above alle erthli creatures

The hihe makere of natures

[Pg 274]

Hic tractat de secunda parte Philosophie, cuius nomen Rethorica facundos efficit. Loquitur eciam de eiusdem duabus speciebus, scilicet Grammatica et Logica, quarum doctrina Rethor sua verba perornat.

The word to man hath yove alone,

So that the speche of his persone, 1510

P. iii. 136

Or forto lese or forto winne,

The hertes thoght which is withinne

Mai schewe, what it wolde mene;

And that is noghwhere elles sene

Of kinde with non other beste.

So scholde he be the more honeste,

To whom god yaf so gret a yifte,

And loke wel that he ne schifte

Hise wordes to no wicked us;

For word the techer of vertus 1520

Is cleped in Philosophie.

Wherof touchende this partie,

Is Rethorique the science

Appropred to the reverence

Of wordes that ben resonable:

And for this art schal be vailable

With goodli wordes forto like,

It hath Gramaire, it hath Logiqe,

That serven bothe unto the speche.

Gramaire ferste hath forto teche1049 1530

To speke upon congruite:

Logique hath eke in his degre

Betwen the trouthe and the falshode

The pleine wordes forto schode,

So that nothing schal go beside,

That he the riht ne schal decide,

Wherof full many a gret debat

Reformed is to good astat,

And pes sustiened up alofte

With esy wordes and with softe, 1540

P. iii. 137

Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle.

The Philosophre amonges alle

Forthi commendeth this science,

Which hath the reule of eloquence.

In Ston and gras vertu ther is,1050

Bot yit the bokes tellen this,

[Pg 275]

That word above alle erthli thinges

Is vertuous in his doinges,

Wher so it be to evele or goode.

For if the wordes semen goode 1550

And ben wel spoke at mannes Ere,

Whan that ther is no trouthe there,

Thei don fulofte gret deceipte;

For whan the word to the conceipte

Descordeth in so double a wise,

Such Rethorique is to despise

In every place, and forto drede.

For of Uluxes thus I rede,

As in the bok of Troie is founde,

His eloquence and his facounde 1560

Of goodly wordes whiche he tolde,

Hath mad that Anthenor him solde

The toun, which he with tresoun wan.

Word hath beguiled many a man;

With word the wilde beste is daunted,

With word the Serpent is enchaunted,

Of word among the men of Armes

Ben woundes heeled with the charmes,

Wher lacketh other medicine;

Word hath under his discipline 1570

P. iii. 138

Of Sorcerie the karectes.

The wordes ben of sondri sectes,

Of evele and eke of goode also;

The wordes maken frend of fo,1051

And fo of frend, and pes of werre,

And werre of pes, and out of herre

The word this worldes cause entriketh,1052

And reconsileth whan him liketh.

The word under the coupe of hevene

Set every thing or odde or evene; 1580

With word the hihe god is plesed,

With word the wordes ben appesed,

The softe word the loude stilleth;

Wher lacketh good, the word fulfilleth,

To make amendes for the wrong;

[Pg 276]

Whan wordes medlen with the song,

It doth plesance wel the more.

Bot forto loke upon the lore1053

Hou Tullius his Rethorique1054

Nota de Eloquencia Iulii in causa Cateline contra Cillenum et alios tunc vrbis Rome Conciues.

Componeth, ther a man mai pike 1590

Hou that he schal hise wordes sette,

Hou he schal lose, hou he schal knette,

And in what wise he schal pronounce

His tale plein withoute frounce.

Wherof ensample if thou wolt seche,

Tak hiede and red whilom the speche1055

Of Julius and Cithero,1056

Which consul was of Rome tho,

Of Catoun eke and of Cillene,

Behold the wordes hem betwene, 1600

P. iii. 139

Whan the tresoun of Cateline

Descoevered was, and the covine

Of hem that were of his assent

Was knowe and spoke in parlement,

And axed hou and in what wise

Men scholde don hem to juise.

Cillenus ferst his tale tolde,

To trouthe and as he was beholde,1057

The comun profit forto save,

He seide hou tresoun scholde have 1610

A cruel deth; and thus thei spieke,

The Consul bothe and Catoun eke,

And seiden that for such a wrong

Ther mai no peine be to strong.

Bot Julius with wordes wise

His tale tolde al otherwise,

As he which wolde her deth respite,

And fondeth hou he mihte excite

The jugges thurgh his eloquence1058

Fro deth to torne the sentence 1620

And sette here hertes to pite.

Nou tolden thei, nou tolde he;

[Pg 277]

Thei spieken plein after the lawe,

Bot he the wordes of his sawe

Coloureth in an other weie

Spekende, and thus betwen the tweie,

To trete upon this juggement,

Made ech of hem his Argument.

Wherof the tales forto hiere,

Ther mai a man the Scole liere 1630

P. iii. 140

Of Rethoriqes eloquences,

Which is the secounde of sciences

Touchende to Philosophie;

Wherof a man schal justifie

Hise wordes in disputeisoun,

And knette upon conclusioun

His Argument in such a forme,

Which mai the pleine trouthe enforme

And the soubtil cautele abate,

Which every trewman schal debate.1059 1640

[iii. Practic.]

vi. Practica quemque statum pars tercia Philosophie

Ad regimen recte ducit in orbe vie:

Set quanto maior Rex est, tanto magis ipsum

Hec scola concernit, qua sua regna regat.1060

The ferste, which is Theorique,

Hic tractat de tercia parte Philosophie, que Practica vocatur, cuius species sunt tres, scilicet Etica, Ichonomia et Policia, quarum doctrina regia magestas in suo regimine ad honoris magnificenciam per singula dirigitur.

And the secounde Rethorique,

Sciences of Philosophie,

I have hem told as in partie,

So as the Philosophre it tolde

To Alisandre: and nou I wolde

Telle of the thridde what it is,

The which Practique cleped is.

Practique stant upon thre thinges

Toward the governance of kinges; 1650

Wherof the ferst Etique is named,1061

The whos science stant proclamed

To teche of vertu thilke reule,

[Pg 278]

Hou that a king himself schal reule

Of his moral condicion

With worthi disposicion

P. iii. 141

Of good livinge in his persone,

Which is the chief of his corone.

It makth a king also to lerne

Hou he his bodi schal governe, 1660

Hou he schal wake, hou he schal slepe,

Hou that he schal his hele kepe

In mete, in drinke, in clothinge eke:

Ther is no wisdom forto seke

As for the reule of his persone,

The which that this science al one1062

Ne techeth as be weie of kinde,

That ther is nothing left behinde.

That other point which to Practique

Belongeth is Iconomique,1063 1670

Which techeth thilke honestete1064

Thurgh which a king in his degre

His wif and child schal reule and guie,

So forth with al the companie

Which in his houshold schal abyde,

And his astat on every syde

In such manere forto lede,

That he his houshold ne mislede.

Practique hath yit the thridde aprise,

Which techeth hou and in what wise 1680

Thurgh hih pourveied ordinance1065

A king schal sette in governance

His Realme, and that is Policie,

Which longeth unto Regalie

In time of werre, in time of pes,

To worschipe and to good encress

P. iii. 142

Of clerk, of kniht and of Marchant,

And so forth of the remenant1066

Of al the comun poeple aboute,

Withinne Burgh and ek withoute,1067 1690

[Pg 279]

Of hem that ben Artificiers,

Whiche usen craftes and mestiers,

Whos Art is cleped Mechanique.

And though thei ben noght alle like,

Yit natheles, hou so it falle,1068

O lawe mot governe hem alle,

Or that thei lese or that thei winne,

After thastat that thei ben inne.1069

[Five Points of Policy.]

Lo, thus this worthi yonge king

Was fulli tauht of every thing, 1700

Which mihte yive entendement

Of good reule and good regiment

To such a worthi Prince as he.

Bot of verray necessite

The Philosophre him hath betake

Fyf pointz, whiche he hath undertake

To kepe and holde in observance,

As for the worthi governance

Which longeth to his Regalie,

After the reule of Policie. 1710

[The First Point of Policy. Truth.]

vii. Moribus ornatus regit hic qui regna moderna,

Cercius expectat ceptra futura poli.

Et quia veridica virtus supereminet omnes,

Regis ab ore boni fabula nulla sonat.

To every man behoveth lore,1070

Bot to noman belongeth more

P. iii. 143

Than to a king, which hath to lede

Hic secundum Policiam tractare intendit precipue super quinque regularum Articulis, que ad Principis Regimen obseruande specialius existunt,1071 quarum prima veritas nuncupatur. Per quam veridicus fit sermo Regis ad omnes.

The poeple; for of his kinghede

He mai hem bothe save and spille.

And for it stant upon his wille,

It sit him wel to ben avised,

And the vertus whiche are assissed1072

Unto a kinges Regiment,

To take in his entendement: 1720

Wherof to tellen, as thei stonde,

Hierafterward nou woll I fonde.

[Pg 280]

Among the vertus on is chief,

And that is trouthe, which is lief

To god and ek to man also.

And for it hath ben evere so,

Tawhte Aristotle, as he wel couthe,

To Alisandre, hou in his youthe

He scholde of trouthe thilke grace

With al his hole herte embrace, 1730

So that his word be trewe and plein,

Toward the world and so certein

That in him be no double speche:

For if men scholde trouthe seche

And founde it noght withinne a king,

It were an unsittende thing.

The word is tokne of that withinne,

Ther schal a worthi king beginne

To kepe his tunge and to be trewe,

So schal his pris ben evere newe. 1740

Avise him every man tofore,

And be wel war, er he be swore,

P. iii. 144

For afterward it is to late,

If that he wole his word debate.1073

For as a king in special

Above all othre is principal

Of his pouer, so scholde he be

Most vertuous in his degre;

And that mai wel be signefied1074

Be his corone and specified. 1750

Nota super hiis que in corona Regis designantur.1075

The gold betokneth excellence,

That men schull don him reverence

As to here liege soverein.

The Stones, as the bokes sein,

Commended ben in treble wise:

Ferst thei ben harde, and thilke assisse

Betokneth in a king Constance,

So that ther schal no variance

Be founde in his condicion;

And also be descripcion 1760

[Pg 281]

The vertu which is in the stones

A verrai Signe is for the nones

Of that a king schal ben honeste

And holde trewly his beheste

Of thing which longeth to kinghede:

The bryhte colour, as I rede,

Which in the stones is schynende,

Is in figure betoknende

The Cronique of this worldes fame,1076

Which stant upon his goode name.1077 1770

The cercle which is round aboute

Is tokne of al the lond withoute,

P. iii. 145

Which stant under his Gerarchie,

That he it schal wel kepe and guye.

And for that trouthe, hou so it falle,

Is the vertu soverein of alle,

That longeth unto regiment,

A tale, which is evident

Of trouthe in comendacioun,

Toward thin enformacion, 1780

Mi Sone, hierafter thou schalt hiere

Of a Cronique in this matiere.

[King, Wine, Woman and Truth.]

As the Cronique it doth reherce,

A Soldan whilom was of Perce,

Hic narrat, qualiter Darius filius Ytaspis Soldanus Percie a tribus suis Cubiculariis, quorum nomina Arpaghes, Manachaz et Zorobabel dicta sunt, nomine questionis singillatim interrogauit, vtrum Rex aut mulier aut vinum maioris fortitudinis vim obtineret: ipsis vero varia opinione respondentibus, Zorobabel vltimus asseruit1082 quod mulier sui amoris complacencia tam Regis quam vini potenciam excellit. Addidit insuper pro finali conclusione dicens, quod veritas super omnia vincit. Cuius responsio ceteris laudabilior acceptabatur.

Which Daires hihte, and Ytaspis

His fader was; and soth it is

That thurgh wisdom and hih prudence

Mor than for eny reverence

Of his lignage as be descente1078

The regne of thilke empire he hente: 1790

And as he was himselve wys,1079

The wisemen he hield in pris1080

And soghte hem oute on every side,1081

That toward him thei scholde abide.

Among the whiche thre ther were

That most service unto him bere

[Pg 282]

As thei which in his chambre lyhen1083

And al his conseil herde and syhen.

Here names ben of strange note,

Arpaghes was the ferste hote,1084 1800

And Manachaz was the secounde,

Zorobabel, as it is founde

P. iii. 146

In the Cronique, was the thridde.

This Soldan, what so him betidde,

To hem he triste most of alle,1085

Wherof the cas is so befalle:

This lord, which hath conceiptes depe,

Upon a nyht whan he hath slepe,

As he which hath his wit desposed,

Touchende a point hem hath opposed. 1810

The kinges question was this;

Of thinges thre which strengest is,

The wyn, the womman or the king:

And that thei scholde upon this thing

Of here ansuere avised be,1086

He yaf hem fulli daies thre,

And hath behote hem be his feith

That who the beste reson seith,

He schal resceive a worthi mede.

Upon this thing thei token hiede 1820

And stoden in desputeison,

That be diverse opinion

Of Argumentz that thei have holde

Arpaghes ferst his tale tolde,

And seide hou that the strengthe of kinges

Is myhtiest of alle thinges.

For king hath pouer over man,

And man is he which reson can,

As he which is of his nature

The moste noble creature 1830

Of alle tho that god hath wroght:

And be that skile it semeth noght,

P. iii. 147

He seith, that eny erthly thing

[Pg 283]

Mai be so myhty as a king.

A king mai spille, a king mai save,

A king mai make of lord a knave1087

And of a knave a lord also:

The pouer of a king stant so,

That he the lawes overpasseth;

What he wol make lasse, he lasseth, 1840

What he wol make more, he moreth;

And as the gentil faucon soreth,1088

He fleth, that noman him reclameth;

Bot he al one alle othre tameth,

And stant himself of lawe fre.

Lo, thus a kinges myht, seith he,

So as his reson can argue,

Is strengest and of most value.

Bot Manachaz seide otherwise,

That wyn is of the more emprise; 1850

And that he scheweth be this weie.

The wyn fulofte takth aweie

The reson fro the mannes herte;

The wyn can make a krepel sterte,

And a delivere man unwelde;

It makth a blind man to behelde,

And a bryht yhed seme derk;

It makth a lewed man a clerk,

And fro the clerkes the clergie

It takth aweie, and couardie 1860

It torneth into hardiesse;

Of Avarice it makth largesse.

P. iii. 148

The wyn makth ek the goode blod,

In which the Soule which is good

Hath chosen hire a resting place,

Whil that the lif hir wole embrace.

And be this skile Manachas

Ansuered hath upon this cas,

And seith that wyn be weie of kinde

Is thing which mai the hertes binde 1870

Wel more than the regalie.

Zorobabel for his partie

[Pg 284]

Seide, as him thoghte for the beste,

That wommen ben the myhtieste.

The king and the vinour also

Of wommen comen bothe tuo;

And ek he seide hou that manhede

Thurgh strengthe unto the wommanhede

Of love, wher he wole or non,

Obeie schal; and therupon, 1880

To schewe of wommen the maistrie,

A tale which he syh with yhe1089

As for ensample he tolde this,—1090

Nota hic de vigore amoris, qui inter Cirum Regem Persarum et Apemen Besazis filiam ipsius Regis Concubinam spectante tota Curia experiebatur.

Hou Apemen, of Besazis1091

Which dowhter was, in the paleis

Sittende upon his hihe deis,

Whan he was hotest in his ire

Toward the grete of his empire,

Cirus the king tirant sche tok,

And only with hire goodly lok 1890

Sche made him debonaire and meke,

And be the chyn and be the cheke

P. iii. 149

Sche luggeth him riht as hir liste,

That nou sche japeth, nou sche kiste,

And doth with him what evere hir liketh;

Whan that sche loureth, thanne he siketh,

And whan sche gladeth, he is glad:

And thus this king was overlad

With hire which his lemman was.

Among the men is no solas, 1900

If that ther be no womman there;

For bot if that the wommen were,1092

This worldes joie were aweie:

Thurgh hem men finden out the weie

To knihthode and to worldes fame;

Thei make a man to drede schame,

And honour forto be desired:

Thurgh the beaute of hem is fyred

The Dart of which Cupide throweth,

Wherof the jolif peine groweth, 1910

[Pg 285]

Which al the world hath under fote.

A womman is the mannes bote,

His lif, his deth, his wo, his wel;

And this thing mai be schewed wel,

Hou that wommen ben goode and kihde,

For in ensample this I finde.

[Tale of Alcestis.]

Whan that the duk Ametus lay

Nota de fidelitate Coniugis, qualiter Alcesta vxor Ameti, vt maritum suum viuificaret, seipsam morti spontanee subegit.

Sek in his bedd, that every day

Men waiten whan he scholde deie,

Alceste his wif goth forto preie, 1920

As sche which wolde thonk deserve,

With Sacrifice unto Minerve,

P. iii. 150

To wite ansuere of the goddesse

Hou that hir lord of his seknesse,

Wherof he was so wo besein,

Recovere myhte his hele ayein.

Lo, thus sche cride and thus sche preide,

Til ate laste a vois hir seide,

That if sche wolde for his sake

The maladie soffre and take, 1930

And deie hirself, he scholde live.

Of this ansuere Alceste hath yive1093

Unto Minerve gret thonkinge,

So that hir deth and his livinge

Sche ches with al hire hole entente,

And thus acorded hom sche wente.

Into the chambre and whan sche cam,

Hire housebonde anon sche nam

In bothe hire Armes and him kiste,

And spak unto him what hire liste; 1940

And therupon withinne a throwe

This goode wif was overthrowe1094

And deide, and he was hool in haste.

So mai a man be reson taste,

Hou next after the god above

The trouthe of wommen and the love,

In whom that alle grace is founde,

Is myhtiest upon this grounde

And most behovely manyfold.

[Pg 286]

Lo, thus Zorobabel hath told 1950

The tale of his opinion:

Bot for final conclusion

P. iii. 151

What strengest is of erthli thinges,

The wyn, the wommen or the kinges,

He seith that trouthe above hem alle

Is myhtiest, hou evere it falle.

The trouthe, hou so it evere come,

Mai for nothing ben overcome;

It mai wel soffre for a throwe,

Bot ate laste it schal be knowe. 1960

The proverbe is, who that is trewe,

Him schal his while nevere rewe:

For hou so that the cause wende,

The trouthe is schameles ate ende,

Bot what thing that is troutheles,

It mai noght wel be schameles,

And schame hindreth every wyht:

So proveth it, ther is no myht

Withoute trouthe in no degre.

And thus for trouthe of his decre 1970

Zorobabel was most commended,

Wherof the question was ended,

And he resceived hath his mede

For trouthe, which to mannes nede

Is most behoveliche overal.

Forthi was trouthe in special

The ferste point in observance

Betake unto the governance1095

Of Alisandre, as it is seid:

For therupon the ground is leid1096 1980

Of every kinges regiment,

As thing which most convenient

P. iii. 152

Is forto sette a king in evene

Bothe in this world and ek in hevene.

[The Second Point of Policy. Liberality.]

viii. Absit Auaricia, ne tangat regia corda,

Eius enim spoliis excoriatur humus.1097

[Pg 287]

Fama colit largum volitans per secula Regem,

Dona tamen licitis sunt moderanda modis.

Next after trouthe the secounde,

In Policie as it is founde,

Hic tractat de regie maiestatis secunda Policia, quam Aristotiles largitatem vocat: cuius virtute non solum propulsata Auaricia Regis nomen magnificum extollitur, set et sui subditi omni1098 diuiciarum habundancia iocundiores efficiuntur.

Which serveth to the worldes fame

In worschipe of a kinges name,

Largesse it is, whos privilegge

Ther mai non Avarice abregge. 1990

The worldes good was ferst comune,

Bot afterward upon fortune

Was thilke comun profit cessed:

For whan the poeple stod encresced

And the lignages woxen grete,

Anon for singulier beyete

Drouh every man to his partie;

Wherof cam in the ferste envie

With gret debat and werres stronge,

And laste among the men so longe, 2000

Til noman wiste who was who,

Ne which was frend ne which was fo.

Til ate laste in every lond

Withinne hemself the poeple fond

That it was good to make a king,

Which mihte appesen al this thing

And yive riht to the lignages

In partinge of here heritages

P. iii. 153

And ek of al here other good;

And thus above hem alle stod 2010

The king upon his Regalie,

As he which hath to justifie

The worldes good fro covoitise.

So sit it wel in alle wise

A king betwen the more and lesse1099

To sette his herte upon largesse

Toward himself and ek also

Toward his poeple; and if noght so,

That is to sein, if that he be

[Pg 288]

Toward himselven large and fre 2020

And of his poeple take and pile,1100

Largesse be no weie of skile

It mai be seid, bot Avarice,

Which in a king is a gret vice.

A king behoveth ek to fle

The vice of Prodegalite,

That he mesure in his expence

So kepe, that of indigence

He mai be sauf: for who that nedeth,

In al his werk the worse he spedeth. 2030

Nota super hoc quod Aristotiles Alexandrum exemplificauit de exaccionibus Regis Chaldeorum.

As Aristotle upon Chaldee

Ensample of gret Auctorite

Unto king Alisandre tauhte

Of thilke folk that were unsauhte

Toward here king for his pilage:

Wherof he bad, in his corage

That he unto thre pointz entende,

Wher that he wolde his good despende.

P. iii. 154

Ferst scholde he loke, hou that it stod,

That al were of his oghne good 2040

The yiftes whiche he wolde yive;

So myhte he wel the betre live:

And ek he moste taken hiede1101

If ther be cause of eny nede,

Which oghte forto be defended,

Er that his goodes be despended:

He mot ek, as it is befalle,

Amonges othre thinges alle

Se the decertes of his men;

And after that thei ben of ken 2050

And of astat and of merite,

He schal hem largeliche aquite,

Or for the werre, or for the pes,

That non honour falle in descres,

Which mihte torne into defame,

Bot that he kepe his goode name,

So that he be noght holde unkinde.

For in Cronique a tale I finde,

[Pg 289]

Which spekth somdiel of this matiere,

Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere. 2060

[Tale of Julius and the poor Knight.]

In Rome, to poursuie his riht,

Ther was a worthi povere kniht,

Hic secundum gesta Iulii exemplum ponit, qualiter Rex suorum militum, quos probos agnouerit, indigenciam largitatis sue beneficiis releuare1102 tenetur.

Which cam al one forto sein

His cause, when the court was plein,

Wher Julius was in presence.

And for him lacketh of despence,

Ther was with him non advocat

To make ple for his astat.

P. iii. 155

Bot thogh him lacke forto plede,

Him lacketh nothing of manhede; 2070

He wiste wel his pours was povere,

Bot yit he thoghte his riht recovere,

And openly poverte alleide,

To themperour and thus he seide:

‘O Julius, lord of the lawe,

Behold, mi conseil is withdrawe

For lacke of gold: do thin office1103

After the lawes of justice:1104

Help that I hadde conseil hiere

Upon the trouthe of mi matiere.’ 2080

And Julius with that anon

Assigned him a worthi on,

Bot he himself no word ne spak.

This kniht was wroth and fond a lak

In themperour, and seide thus:

‘O thou unkinde Julius,

Whan thou in thi bataille were

Up in Aufrique, and I was there,

Mi myht for thi rescousse I dede

And putte noman in my stede, 2090

Thou wost what woundes ther I hadde:

Bot hier I finde thee so badde,

That thee ne liste speke o word1105

Thin oghne mouth, nor of thin hord

[Pg 290]

To yive a florin me to helpe.

Hou scholde I thanne me beyelpe

Fro this dai forth of thi largesse,

Whan such a gret unkindenesse

P. iii. 156

Is founde in such a lord as thou?’

This Julius knew wel ynou 2100

That al was soth which he him tolde;

And for he wolde noght ben holde

Unkinde, he tok his cause on honde,

And as it were of goddes sonde,

He yaf him good ynouh to spende

For evere into his lives ende.1106

And thus scholde every worthi king

Take of his knihtes knowleching,

Whan that he syh thei hadden nede,

For every service axeth mede: 2110

Bot othre, whiche have noght deserved

Thurgh vertu, bot of japes served,

A king schal noght deserve grace,

Thogh he be large in such a place.

[Antigonus and Cinichus.]

It sit wel every king to have

Discrecion, whan men him crave,

Hic ponit exemplum de Rege Antigono, qualiter dona regia secundum maius et minus equa discrecione moderanda sunt.

So that he mai his yifte wite:

Wherof I finde a tale write,

Hou Cinichus a povere kniht

A Somme which was over myht 2120

Preide of his king Antigonus.

The king ansuerde to him thus,1107

And seide hou such a yifte passeth

His povere astat: and thanne he lasseth,

And axeth bot a litel peny,

If that the king wol yive him eny.

The king ansuerde, it was to smal

For him, which was a lord real;1108

P. iii. 157

To yive a man so litel thing

It were unworschipe in a king. 2130

Be this ensample a king mai lere

[Pg 291]

[Discretion in Giving.]

That forto yive is in manere:

For if a king his tresor lasseth

Withoute honour and thonkles passeth,

Whan he himself wol so beguile,

I not who schal compleigne his while,

Ne who be rihte him schal relieve.

Bot natheles this I believe,

To helpe with his oghne lond

Behoveth every man his hond1109 2140

To sette upon necessite;

Nota hic quod Regius status a suis fidelibus omni fauore supportandus est.

And ek his kinges realte

Mot every liege man conforte,

With good and bodi to supporte,

Whan thei se cause resonable:

For who that is noght entendable

To holde upriht his kinges name,

Him oghte forto be to blame.

[Prodigality of Kings.]

Of Policie and overmore

To speke in this matiere more, 2150

Nota hic secundum Aristotilem,1110 qualiter Principum Prodegalitas paupertatem inducit communem.

So as the Philosophre tolde,

A king after the reule is holde

To modifie and to adresce

Hise yiftes upon such largesce

Seneca.1111 Sic aliis benefacito, vt tibi non noceas.

That he mesure noght excede:

For if a king falle into nede,

It causeth ofte sondri thinges

Whiche are ungoodly to the kinges.1112

P. iii. 158

What man wol noght himself mesure,

Men sen fulofte that mesure 2160

Him hath forsake: and so doth he

That useth Prodegalite,

Which is the moder of poverte,

Wherof the londes ben deserte;

And namely whan thilke vice

Aboute a king stant in office

And hath withholde of his partie

The covoitouse flaterie,

[Pg 292]

Which many a worthi king deceiveth,

Er he the fallas aperceiveth 2170

Of hem that serven to the glose.

For thei that cunnen plese and glose,

Ben, as men tellen, the norrices

Unto the fostringe of the vices,

Wherof fulofte natheles

A king is blamed gulteles.

[Flatterers.]

A Philosophre, as thou schalt hiere,

Nota qualiter in principum curiis adulatores triplici grauitate offendunt.

Spak to a king of this matiere,

And seide him wel hou that flatours

Coupable were of thre errours. 2180

Primo contra deum.

On was toward the goddes hihe,

That weren wrothe of that thei sihe

The meschief which befalle scholde

Of that the false flatour tolde.

Secundo contra Principem.

Toward the king an other was,

Whan thei be sleihte and be fallas

Of feigned wordes make him wene

That blak is whyt and blew is grene

P. iii. 159

Touchende of his condicion:

For whanne he doth extorcion 2190

With manye an other vice mo,

Men schal noght finden on of tho

To groucche or speke therayein,

Bot holden up his oil and sein

That al is wel, what evere he doth;

And thus of fals thei maken soth,

So that here kinges yhe is blent

And wot not hou the world is went.1113

Tercio contra populum.1114

The thridde errour is harm comune,

With which the poeple mot commune 2200

Of wronges that thei bringen inne:

And thus thei worchen treble sinne,

That ben flatours aboute a king.

Ther myhte be no worse thing

Aboute a kinges regalie,

Thanne is the vice of flaterie.

[Pg 293]

And natheles it hath ben used,

That it was nevere yit refused

As forto speke in court real;

For there it is most special, 2210

And mai noght longe be forbore.

Bot whan this vice of hem is bore,

That scholden the vertus forthbringe,

And trouthe is torned to lesinge,

It is, as who seith, ayein kinde,

Wherof an old ensample I finde.

[Tale of Diogenes and Aristippus]

Among these othre tales wise

Of Philosophres, in this wise

P. iii. 160

1115Hic contra vanitates adulantum loquitur, et narrat quod cum Arisippus de Cartagine Philosophus scole studium relinquens sui Principis obsequio in magnis adulacionibus pre ceteris carior assistebat, accidit vt ipse quodam die Diogenem Philosophum nuper socium suum, virum tam moribus quam sciencia probatissimum, herbas ad olera sua collectas lauantem ex casu ad ripam inuenit: cui ait, ‘O Diogenes, vere si tu sicut et ego Principi tuo placere scires, huiusmodi herbas aut colligere aut lauare tibi minime indigeret.’ Cui alter respondit, ‘O Arisippe, certe et si tu sicut et ego olera tua colligere et lauare scires, principem tuum ob inanis glorie cupiditatem blandiri nullatenus deberes.’

I rede, how whilom tuo ther were,

And to the Scole forto lere 2220

Unto Athenes fro Cartage

Here frendes, whan thei were of Age,

Hem sende; and ther thei stoden longe,

Til thei such lore have underfonge,

That in here time thei surmonte

Alle othre men, that to acompte

Of hem was tho the grete fame.

The ferste of hem his rihte name

Was Diogenes thanne hote,

In whom was founde no riote: 2230

His felaw Arisippus hyhte,

Which mochel couthe and mochel myhte.

Bot ate laste, soth to sein,

Thei bothe tornen hom ayein

Unto Cartage and scole lete.

This Diogenes no beyete

[Pg 294]

Of worldes good or lasse or more

Ne soghte for his longe lore,

Bot tok him only forto duelle

At hom; and as the bokes telle, 2240

His hous was nyh to the rivere

Besyde a bregge, as thou schalt hiere.

Ther duelleth he to take his reste,1116

So as it thoghte him for the beste,

To studie in his Philosophie,

As he which wolde so defie

The worldes pompe on every syde.

Bot Arisippe his bok aside

P. iii. 161

Hath leid, and to the court he wente,

Wher many a wyle and many a wente 2250

With flaterie and wordes softe1117

He caste, and hath compassed ofte

Hou he his Prince myhte plese;

And in this wise he gat him ese

Of vein honour and worldes good.

The londes reule upon him stod,

The king of him was wonder glad,

And all was do, what thing he bad,

Bothe in the court and ek withoute.

With flaterie he broghte aboute 2260

His pourpos of the worldes werk,

Which was ayein the stat of clerk,1118

So that Philosophie he lefte

And to richesse himself uplefte:

Lo, thus hadde Arisippe his wille.

Bot Diogenes duelte stille

At home and loked on his bok:

He soghte noght the worldes crok

For vein honour ne for richesse,

Bot all his hertes besinesse 2270

He sette to be vertuous;

And thus withinne his oghne hous

He liveth to the sufficance

Of his havinge. And fell per chance,

[Pg 295]

This Diogene upon a day,

And that was in the Monthe of May,

Whan that these herbes ben holsome,

He walketh forto gadre some

P. iii. 162

In his gardin, of whiche his joutes

He thoghte have, and thus aboutes 2280

Whanne he hath gadred what him liketh,

He satte him thanne doun and pyketh,1119

And wyssh his herbes in the flod

Upon the which his gardin stod,

Nyh to the bregge, as I tolde er.

And hapneth, whil he sitteth ther,

Cam Arisippes be the strete

With manye hors and routes grete,

And straght unto the bregge he rod,

Wher that he hoved and abod; 2290

For as he caste his yhe nyh,

His felaw Diogene he syh,

And what he dede he syh also,

Wherof he seide to him so:1120

‘O Diogene, god thee spede.

It were certes litel nede

To sitte there and wortes pyke,

If thou thi Prince couthest lyke,

So as I can in my degre.’

‘O Arisippe,’ ayein quod he, 2300

‘If that thou couthist, so as I,

Thi wortes pyke, trewely

It were als litel nede or lasse,

That thou so worldly wolt compasse

With flaterie forto serve,

Wherof thou thenkest to deserve

Thi princes thonk, and to pourchace

Hou thou myht stonden in his grace,

P. iii. 163

For getinge of a litel good.

If thou wolt take into thi mod 2310

Reson, thou myht be reson deeme

That so thi prince forto queeme

[Pg 296]

Is noght to reson acordant,

Bot it is gretly descordant

Unto the Scoles of Athene.’

Lo, thus ansuerde Diogene

Ayein the clerkes flaterie.

[Flattery.]

Bot yit men sen thessamplerie1121

Of Arisippe is wel received,

And thilke of Diogene is weyved. 2320

Office in court and gold in cofre

Is nou, men sein, the philosophre

Which hath the worschipe in the halle;

Bot flaterie passeth alle

In chambre, whom the court avanceth;

For upon thilke lot it chanceth

To be beloved nou aday.

*I not if it be ye or nay,

Bot as the comun vois it telleth;1122

Bot wher that flaterie duelleth1123 2330

*I not if it be ye or nay.

[Example of Dante.]

How Dante the poete answerde1124

Nota exemplum cuiusdam poete de Ytalia, qui Dante vocabatur.

To a flatour, the tale I herde.2330*

Upon a strif bitwen hem tuo

He seide him, ‘Ther ben many mo1125

Of thy servantes than of myne.

For the poete of his covyne

Hath non that wol him clothe and fede,

But a flatour may reule and lede

P. iii. 164

A king with al his loun aboute.’

So stant the wise man in doute

Of hem that to folie drawe:

For such is now the newe lawe,2340*

And as the comune vois it telleth,

Wher now that flaterie duelleth

In every lond etc. (as 2331 ff.)

In eny lond under the Sonne,1126

Ther is ful many a thing begonne

[Pg 297]

Which were betre to be left;

That hath be schewed nou and eft.

Bot if a Prince wolde him reule1127

Of the Romeins after the reule,

In thilke time as it was used,1128

This vice scholde be refused,

Wherof the Princes ben assoted.

Bot wher the pleine trouthe is noted, 2340

Ther may a Prince wel conceive,

That he schal noght himself deceive,

Of that he hiereth wordes pleine;

For him thar noght be reson pleigne,

That warned is er him be wo.

And that was fully proeved tho,

Whan Rome was the worldes chief,

The Sothseiere tho was lief,

Which wolde noght the trouthe spare,

Bot with hise wordes pleine and bare 2350

To Themperour hise sothes tolde,

As in Cronique is yit withholde,1129

Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere

Acordende unto this matiere.

[The Roman Triumph.]

P. iii. 165

To se this olde ensamplerie,

That whilom was no flaterie

1130Hic narrat super eodem, qualiter nuper Romanorum Imperator, cum ipse triumphator in hostes a bello Rome rediret, tres sibi laudes in signum sui triumphi precipue debebantur: primo quatuor equi albissimi currum in quo sedebat veherent, secundo tunica Iovis pro tunc indueretur, tercio sui captiui prope currum ad vtrumque latus cathenati deambularent. Set ne tanti honoris adulacio eius animum in superbiam extolleret, quidam scurra linguosus iuxta ipsum in curru sedebat, qui quasi continuatis vocibus improperando ei dixit, ‘Notheos,’ hoc est nosce teipsum, ‘quia si hodie fortuna1133 tibi prospera fuerit,1134 cras forte1135 versa rota mutabilis aduersabitur.’

Toward the Princes wel I finde;

Wherof so as it comth to mynde,

Mi Sone, a tale unto thin Ere,

Whil that the worthi princes were 2360

At Rome, I thenke forto tellen.

For whan the chances so befellen

[Pg 298]

That eny Emperour as tho1131

Victoire hadde upon his fo,

And so forth cam to Rome ayein,

Of treble honour he was certein,

Wherof that he was magnefied.

The ferste, as it is specefied,

Was, whan he cam at thilke tyde,

The Charr in which he scholde ryde 2370

Foure whyte Stiedes scholden drawe;

Of Jupiter be thilke lawe

The Cote he scholde were also;

Hise prisoners ek scholden go

Endlong the Charr on eyther hond,

And alle the nobles of the lond1132

Tofore and after with him come

Ridende and broghten him to Rome,

In thonk of his chivalerie

And for non other flaterie. 2380

And that was schewed forth withal;

Wher he sat in his Charr real,

Beside him was a Ribald set,

Which hadde hise wordes so beset,1136

P. iii. 166

To themperour in al his gloire

He seide, ‘Tak into memoire,

For al this pompe and al this pride

Let no justice gon aside,(2400*)

Bot know thiself, what so befalle.

For men sen ofte time falle 2390

Thing which men wende siker stonde:

Thogh thou victoire have nou on honde,

Fortune mai noght stonde alway;

The whiel per chance an other day

Mai torne, and thou myht overthrowe;

Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe.’

With these wordes and with mo

This Ribald, which sat with him tho,

To Themperour his tale tolde:

[Pg 299]

And overmor what evere he wolde, 2400

Or were it evel or were it good,

So pleinly as the trouthe stod,

He spareth noght, bot spekth it oute;

And so myhte every man aboute

The day of that solempnete

His tale telle als wel as he

To Themperour al openly.

And al was this the cause why;

That whil he stod in that noblesse,1137

He scholde his vanite represse 2410

With suche wordes as he herde.

[The Emperor and his Masons.]

Lo nou, hou thilke time it ferde1138

Toward so hih a worthi lord:

Hic eciam contra adulacionem scribit quod primo die quo nuper Imperator intronizatus extitit, latomi sui ab ipso constanter peterent, de quali lapide sue sepulture tumulum fabricarent; vt sic futuram mortem commemorans vanitates huius seculi transitorias facilius reprimeret.1139

For this I finde ek of record,

P. iii. 167

Which the Cronique hath auctorized.

What Emperour was entronized,

The ferste day of his corone,

Wher he was in his real Throne

And hield his feste in the paleis

Sittende upon his hihe deis 2420

With al the lust that mai be gete,

Whan he was gladdest at his mete,

And every menstral hadde pleid,

And every Disour hadde seid1140

What most was plesant to his Ere,

Than ate laste comen there

Hise Macons, for thei scholden crave

Wher that he wolde be begrave,1141

And of what Ston his sepulture

Thei scholden make, and what sculpture 2430

He wolde ordeine therupon.

Tho was ther flaterie non

[Pg 300]

The worthi princes to bejape;

The thing was other wise schape1142

With good conseil; and otherwise

Thei were hemselven thanne wise,

And understoden wel and knewen.

Whan suche softe wyndes blewen

Of flaterie into here Ere,

Thei setten noght here hertes there; 2440

Bot whan thei herden wordes feigned,

The pleine trouthe it hath desdeigned

Of hem that weren so discrete.

So tok the flatour no beyete1143

P. iii. 168

Of him that was his prince tho:

And forto proven it is so,

A tale which befell in dede

In a Cronique of Rome I rede.

[Caesar’s Answer.]

Cesar upon his real throne

Hic inter alia gesta Cesaris narrat vnum exemplum precipue contra illos qui, cum in aspectu principis aliis sapienciores apparere vellent, quandoque tamen simulate sapiencie talia committunt, per que ceteris stulciores in fine comprobantur.

Wher that he sat in his persone 2450

And was hyest in al his pris,

A man, which wolde make him wys,

Fell doun knelende in his presence,

And dede him such a reverence,

As thogh the hihe god it were:

Men hadden gret mervaille there

Of the worschipe which he dede.

This man aros fro thilke stede,

And forth with al the same tyde

He goth him up and be his side1144 2460

He set him doun as pier and pier,1145

And seide, ‘If thou that sittest hier

Art god, which alle thinges myht,

Thanne have I do worschipe ariht1146

As to the god; and other wise,

If thou be noght of thilke assisse,

Bot art a man such as am I,

Than mai I sitte faste by,

[Pg 301]

For we be bothen of o kinde.’1147

Cesar ansuerde and seide, ‘O blinde, 2470

Thou art a fol, it is wel sene

Upon thiself: for if thou wene

I be a god, thou dost amys

To sitte wher thou sest god is;

P. iii. 169

And if I be a man, also

Thou hast a gret folie do,

Whan thou to such on as schal deie

The worschipe of thi god aweie

Hast yoven so unworthely.

Thus mai I prove redely, 2480

Thou art noght wys.’ And thei that herde

Hou wysly that the king ansuerde,

It was to hem a newe lore;

Wherof thei dradden him the more,

And broghten nothing to his Ere,

Bot if it trouthe and reson were.1148

So be ther manye, in such a wise

That feignen wordes to be wise,(2500*)

And al is verray flaterie

To him which can it wel aspie. 2490

[Flatterers of a King.]

The kinde flatour can noght love

Bot forto bringe himself above;

Nota, qualiter isti circa Principem adulatores pocius a Curia expelli, quam ad regie maiestatis munera acceptari, Policia suadente deberent.

For hou that evere his maister fare,

So that himself stonde out of care,

Him reccheth noght: and thus fulofte

Deceived ben with wordes softe

The kinges that ben innocent.

Wherof as for chastiement

The wise Philosophre seide,

What king that so his tresor leide 2500

Upon such folk, he hath the lesse,

And yit ne doth he no largesse,

Bot harmeth with his oghne hond

Himself and ek his oghne lond,

P. iii. 170

And that be many a sondri weie.

Wherof if that a man schal seie,

As forto speke in general,

[Pg 302]

Wher such thing falleth overal

That eny king himself misreule,

The Philosophre upon his reule 2510

In special a cause sette,

Which is and evere hath be the lette

In governance aboute a king

Upon the meschief of the thing,

And that, he seith, is Flaterie.

Wherof tofore as in partie

What vice it is I have declared;

For who that hath his wit bewared

Upon a flatour to believe,

Whan that he weneth best achieve 2520

His goode world, it is most fro.

And forto proeven it is so

Ensamples ther ben manyon,

Of whiche if thou wolt knowen on,

It is behovely forto hiere

What whilom fell in this matiere.

[Ahab and Micaiah.]

Among the kinges in the bible

I finde a tale, and is credible,

Hic loquitur vlterius de consilio adulantum, quorum fabulis principis aures organizate veritatis auditum capere nequiunt. Et narrat exemplum de Rege Achab, qui pro eo quod ipse prophecias fidelis Michee recusauit blandiciisque adulantis1150 Zedechie adhesit, Rex Sirie Benedab in campo bellator ipsum diuino iudicio deuictum interfecit.

Of him that whilom Achab hihte,

Which hadde al Irahel to rihte;1149 2530

Bot who that couthe glose softe

And flatre, suche he sette alofte

In gret astat and made hem riche;

Bot thei that spieken wordes liche

P. iii. 171

To trouthe and wolde it noght forbere,

For hem was non astat to bere,

The court of suche tok non hiede.

Til ate laste upon a nede,

That Benedab king of Surie

Of Irahel a gret partie,1151 2540

Which Ramoth Galaath was hote,

Hath sesed; and of that riote

He tok conseil in sondri wise,

Bot noght of hem that weren wise.

[Pg 303]

And natheles upon this cas

To strengthen him, for Josaphas,1152

Which thanne was king of Judee,

He sende forto come, as he

Which thurgh frendschipe and alliance

Was next to him of aqueintance; 2550

For Joram Sone of Josaphath

Achabbes dowhter wedded hath,

Which hihte faire Godelie.

And thus cam into Samarie

King Josaphat, and he fond there

The king Achab: and whan thei were

Togedre spekende of this thing,

This Josaphat seith to the king,

Hou that he wolde gladly hiere

Som trew prophete in this matiere,1153 2560

That he his conseil myhte yive

To what point that it schal be drive.1154

And in that time so befell,

Ther was such on in Irahel,

P. iii. 172

Which sette him al to flaterie,

And he was cleped Sedechie;

And after him Achab hath sent:

And he at his comandement

Tofore him cam, and be a sleyhte

He hath upon his heved on heyhte 2570

Tuo large hornes set of bras,

As he which al a flatour was,

And goth rampende as a leoun

And caste hise hornes up and doun,

And bad men ben of good espeir,

For as the homes percen their,

He seith, withoute resistence,

So wiste he wel of his science

That Benedab is desconfit.

Whan Sedechie upon this plit 2580

Hath told this tale to his lord,

Anon ther were of his acord

Prophetes false manye mo

[Pg 304]

To bere up oil, and alle tho

Affermen that which he hath told,

Wherof the king Achab was bold

And yaf hem yiftes al aboute.

But Josaphat was in gret doute,(2600*)

And hield fantosme al that he herde,

Preiende Achab, hou so it ferde, 2590

If ther were eny other man,

The which of prophecie can,

To hiere him speke er that thei gon.

Quod Achab thanne, ‘Ther is on,1155

P. iii. 173

A brothell, which Micheas hihte;

Bot he ne comth noght in my sihte,

For he hath longe in prison lein.

Him liketh nevere yit to sein1156

A goodly word to mi plesance;

And natheles at thin instance 2600

He schal come oute, and thanne he may

Seie as he seide many day;

For yit he seide nevere wel.’

Tho Josaphat began somdel

To gladen him in hope of trouthe,

And bad withouten eny slouthe

That men him scholden fette anon.

And thei that weren for him gon,

Whan that thei comen wher he was,1157

Thei tolden unto Micheas 2610

The manere hou that Sedechie

Declared hath his prophecie;

And therupon thei preie him faire

That he wol seie no contraire,

Wherof the king mai be desplesed,

For so schal every man ben esed,

And he mai helpe himselve also.

Micheas upon trouthe tho

His herte sette, and to hem seith,1158

Al that belongeth to his feith 2620

And of non other feigned thing,

[Pg 305]

That wol he telle unto his king,1159

Als fer as god hath yove him grace.

Thus cam this prophete into place

P. iii. 174

Wher he the kinges wille herde;

And he therto anon ansuerde,

And seide unto him in this wise:

‘Mi liege lord, for mi servise,

Which trewe hath stonden evere yit,

Thou hast me with prisone aquit: 2630

Bot for al that I schal noght glose

Of trouthe als fer as I suppose;

And as touchende of this bataille,1160

Thou schalt noght of the sothe faile.

For if it like thee to hiere,

As I am tauht in that matiere,

Thou miht it understonde sone;1161

Bot what is afterward to done

Avise thee, for this I sih.

I was tofor the throne on hih, 2640

Wher al the world me thoghte stod,1162

And there I herde and understod

The vois of god with wordes cliere

Axende, and seide in this manere:

“In what thing mai I best beguile

The king Achab?” And for a while

Upon this point thei spieken faste.

Tho seide a spirit ate laste,

“I undertake this emprise.”

And god him axeth in what wise. 2650

“I schal,” quod he, “deceive and lye

With flaterende prophecie

In suche mouthes as he lieveth.”

And he which alle thing achieveth

P. iii. 175

Bad him go forth and don riht so.

And over this I sih also

The noble peple of Irahel1163

Dispers as Schep upon an hell,

[Pg 306]

Withoute a kepere unarraied:

And as thei wente aboute astraied, 2660

I herde a vois unto hem sein,

“Goth hom into your hous ayein,

Til I for you have betre ordeigned.”’

Quod Sedechie, ‘Thou hast feigned

This tale in angringe of the king.’

And in a wraththe upon this thing

He smot Michee upon the cheke;

The king him hath rebuked eke,

And every man upon him cride:

Thus was he schent on every side, 2670

Ayein and into prison lad,

For so the king himselve bad.

The trouthe myhte noght ben herd;

Bot afterward as it hath ferd,

The dede proveth his entente:

Achab to the bataille wente,

Wher Benedab for al his Scheld

Him slouh, so that upon the feld

His poeple goth aboute astray.

Bot god, which alle thinges may, 2680

So doth that thei no meschief have;

Here king was ded and thei ben save,

And hom ayein in goddes pes

Thei wente, and al was founde les

P. iii. 176

That Sedechie hath seid tofore.

So sit it wel a king therfore

To loven hem that trouthe mene;

For ate laste it wol be sene(2700*)

That flaterie is nothing worth.1164

Bot nou to mi matiere forth, 2690

As forto speken overmore1165

After the Philosophres lore,

The thridde point of Policie

I thenke forto specifie

[The Third Point of Policy. Justice.]

ix. Propter transgressos leges statuuntur in orbe,

Ut viuant iusti Regis honore viri.

[Pg 307]

Lex sine iusticia populum sub principis vmbra

Deuiat, vt rectum nemo videbit iter.

What is a lond wher men ben none?

What ben the men whiche are al one

Hic tractat de tercia Principum regiminis1166 Policia, que Iusticia nominata est, cuius condicio legibus incorrupta vnicuique quod suum est equo pondere distribuit.

Withoute a kinges governance?

What is a king in his ligance,

Wher that ther is no lawe in londe?

What is to take lawe on honde, 2700

Bot if the jugges weren trewe?

These olde worldes with the newe

Who that wol take in evidence,

Ther mai he se thexperience,

What thing it is to kepe lawe,

Thurgh which the wronges ben withdrawe

And rihtwisnesse stant commended,

Wherof the regnes ben amended.

For wher the lawe mai comune

The lordes forth with the commune,1167 2710

P. iii. 177

Ech hath his propre duete;

And ek the kinges realte

Of bothe his worschipe underfongeth,

To his astat as it belongeth,

Which of his hihe worthinesse

Hath to governe rihtwisnesse,

As he which schal the lawe guide.

And natheles upon som side

His pouer stant above the lawe,

To yive bothe and to withdrawe 2720

The forfet of a mannes lif;

But thinges whiche are excessif

Ayein the lawe, he schal noght do

For love ne for hate also.

The myhtes of a king ben grete,

Bot yit a worthi king schal lete

Imperatoriam maiestatem non solum armis, set eciam legibus oportet esse armatam.

Of wrong to don, al that he myhte;

For he which schal the poeple ryhte,

It sit wel to his regalie

That he himself ferst justefie 2730

[Pg 308]

Towardes god in his degre:

For his astat is elles fre

Toward alle othre in his persone,

Save only to the god al one,

Which wol himself a king chastise,

Wher that non other mai suffise.

So were it good to taken hiede

That ferst a king his oghne dede

Betwen the vertu and the vice

Redresce, and thanne of his justice 2740

P. iii. 178

So sette in evene the balance

Towardes othre in governance,

That to the povere and to the riche

Hise lawes myhten stonde liche,

He schal excepte no persone.

Bot for he mai noght al him one

In sondri places do justice,1168

He schal of his real office

With wys consideracion

Ordeigne his deputacion1169 2750

Of suche jugges as ben lerned,

So that his poeple be governed

Be hem that trewe ben and wise.

For if the lawe of covoitise

Be set upon a jugges hond,

Wo is the poeple of thilke lond,

For wrong mai noght himselven hyde:

Bot elles on that other side,

If lawe stonde with the riht,

The poeple is glad and stant upriht. 2760

Wher as the lawe is resonable,

The comun poeple stant menable,1170

And if the lawe torne amis,

The poeple also mistorned is.

[Justice of Maximin.]

And in ensample of this matiere

Nota hic de iusticia Maximini Imperatoris, qui cum alicuius prouincie custodem sibi substituere volebat, primo de sui nominis fama proclamacione facta ipsius condicionem diligencius inuestigabat.

Of Maximin a man mai hiere,

Of Rome which was Emperour,

[Pg 309]

That whanne he made a governour

Be weie of substitucion

Of Province or of region, 2770

P. iii. 179

He wolde ferst enquere his name,

And let it openly proclame

What man he were, or evel or good.

And upon that his name stod

Enclin to vertu or to vice,1171

So wolde he sette him in office,

Or elles putte him al aweie.

Thus hield the lawe his rihte weie,

Which fond no let of covoitise:

The world stod than upon the wise, 2780

As be ensample thou myht rede;

And hold it in thi mynde, I rede.

[Gaius Fabricius.]

In a Cronique I finde thus,

Hou that Gayus Fabricius,

Which whilom was Consul of Rome,

Hic ponit exemplum de iudicibus incorruptis. Et narrat qualiter Gayus Fabricius nuper Rome Consul aurum a Sampnitibus sibi oblatum renuit, dicens quod nobilius est aurum possidentes dominio subiugare, quam ex auri cupiditate dominii libertatem amittere.

Be whom the lawes yede and come,

Whan the Sampnites to him broghte

A somme of gold, and him besoghte(2800*)

To don hem favour in the lawe,

Toward the gold he gan him drawe, 2790

Wherof in alle mennes lok

A part up in his hond he tok,1172

Which to his mouth in alle haste

He putte, it forto smelle and taste,1173

And to his yhe and to his Ere,

Bot he ne fond no confort there:

And thanne he gan it to despise,

And tolde unto hem in this wise:

‘I not what is with gold to thryve,

Whan non of all my wittes fyve 2800

P. iii. 180

Fynt savour ne delit therinne.

So is it bot a nyce Sinne

Of gold to ben to covoitous;

Bot he is riche and glorious,

[Pg 310]

Which hath in his subjeccion

Tho men whiche in possession1174

Ben riche of gold, and be this skile;

For he mai aldai whan he wile,

Or be hem lieve or be hem lothe,

Justice don upon hem bothe.’ 2810

Lo, thus he seide, and with that word

He threw tofore hem on the bord

The gold out of his hond anon,

And seide hem that he wolde non:1175

So that he kepte his liberte

To do justice and equite,

Withoute lucre of such richesse.

Ther be nou fewe of suche, I gesse;

For it was thilke times used,

That every jugge was refused 2820

Which was noght frend to comun riht;

Bot thei that wolden stonde upriht

For trouthe only to do justice

Preferred were in thilke office

To deme and jugge commun lawe:

Which nou, men sein, is al withdrawe.

To sette a lawe and kepe it noght

Ther is no comun profit soght;

Bot above alle natheles

The lawe, which is mad for pes, 2830

P. iii. 181

Is good to kepe for the beste,

For that set alle men in reste.

[The Emperor Conrad.]

The rihtful Emperour Conrade

Hic narrat de iusticia nuper Conradi Imperatoris, cuius tempore alicuius reuerencia persone, aliqua seu precum interuencione quacunque vel auri redempcione, legum Statuta commutari seu redimi nullatenus potuerunt.

To kepe pes such lawe made,

That non withinne the cite

In destorbance of unite

Dorste ones moeven a matiere.

For in his time, as thou myht hiere,

What point that was for lawe set

It scholde for no gold be let,1176 2840

To what persone that it were.

[Pg 311]

And this broghte in the comun fere,

Why every man the lawe dradde,

For ther was non which favour hadde.

[The Consul Carmidotirus.]

So as these olde bokes sein,

I finde write hou a Romein,

Nota exemplum de constancia iudicis; vbi narrat de Carmidotiro Rome nuper Consule, qui cum sui statuti legem nescius offendisset, Romanique super hoc penam sibi remittere voluissent, ipse propria manu, vbi nullus alius in ipsum vindex fuit, sui criminis vindictam executus est.

Which Consul was of the Pretoire,

Whos name was Carmidotoire,

He sette a lawe for the pes,

That non, bot he be wepneles,1177 2850

Schal come into the conseil hous,

And elles as malicious

He schal ben of the lawe ded.

To that statut and to that red

Acorden alle it schal be so,

For certein cause which was tho:

Nou lest what fell therafter sone.1178

This Consul hadde forto done,1179

And was into the feldes ride;

And thei him hadden longe abide, 2860

P. iii. 182

That lordes of the conseil were,

And for him sende, and he cam there

With swerd begert, and hath foryete,1180

Til he was in the conseil sete.

Was non of hem that made speche,

Til he himself it wolde seche,

And fond out the defalte himselve;

And thanne he seide unto the tuelve,

Whiche of the Senat weren wise,

‘I have deserved the juise, 2870

In haste that it were do.’

And thei him seiden alle no;

For wel thei wiste it was no vice,

Whan he ne thoghte no malice,

Bot onliche of a litel slouthe:

And thus thei leften as for routhe

[Pg 312]

To do justice upon his gilt,

For that he scholde noght be spilt.

And whanne he sih the maner hou

Thei wolde him save, he made avou 2880

With manfull herte, and thus he seide,

That Rome scholde nevere abreide

His heires, whan he were of dawe,

That here Ancestre brak the lawe.

Forthi, er that thei weren war,

Forth with the same swerd he bar

The statut of his lawe he kepte,1181

So that al Rome his deth bewepte.(2900*)

[Example of Cambyses.]

In other place also I rede,

Wher that a jugge his oghne dede 2890

P. iii. 183

Nota quod falsi iudices mortis pena puniendi sunt. Narrat enim qualiter Cambises Rex Persarum quendam iudicem corruptum excoriari viuum fecit, eiusque pelle cathedram iudicialem operiri constituit: ita quod filius suus super patris pellem postea pro tribunali cessurus iudicii equitatem euidencius memoraretur.

Ne wol noght venge of lawe broke,

The king it hath himselven wroke.

The grete king which Cambises

Was hote, a jugge laweles

He fond, and into remembrance

He dede upon him such vengance:

Out of his skyn he was beflain

Al quyk, and in that wise slain,

So that his skyn was schape al meete,1182

And nayled on the same seete1183 2900

Wher that his Sone scholde sitte.

Avise him, if he wolde flitte

The lawe for the coveitise,

Ther sih he redi his juise.

Thus in defalte of other jugge

The king mot otherwhile jugge,

To holden up the rihte lawe.

And forto speke of tholde dawe,

To take ensample of that was tho,

I finde a tale write also, 2910

Hou that a worthi prince is holde

The lawes of his lond to holde,

Ferst for the hihe goddes sake,

And ek for that him is betake

[Pg 313]

The poeple forto guide and lede,

Which is the charge of his kinghede.

[Lycurgus and his Laws.]

In a Cronique I rede thus

Of the rihtful Ligurgius,

Hic ponit exemplum de Principibus illis, qui1184 non solum legem statuentes illam conseruant, set vt commune bonum adaugeant, propriam facultatem diminuunt. Et narrat quod, cum Ligurgius Athenarum princeps subditos suos1185 in omni prosperitatis habundancia divites et vnanimes congruis legibus stare fecisset, volens ad vtilitatem rei publice leges illas firmius obseruari, peregre proficisci se finxit; set prius iuramentum solempne a legiis suis sub hac forma exegit, quod ipsi vsque in reditum suum leges suas nullatenus infringerent: quibus iuratis peregrinacionem suam in exilium absque reditu pro perpetuo delegauit.1186

Which of Athenis Prince was,

Hou he the lawe in every cas, 2920

P. iii. 184

Wherof he scholde his poeple reule,

Hath set upon so good a reule,

In al this world that cite non

Of lawe was so wel begon

Forth with the trouthe of governance.

Ther was among hem no distance,

Bot every man hath his encress;

Ther was withoute werre pes,

Withoute envie love stod;

Richesse upon the comun good 2930

And noght upon the singuler

Ordeigned was, and the pouer

Of hem that weren in astat

Was sauf: wherof upon debat

Ther stod nothing, so that in reste

Mihte every man his herte reste.

And whan this noble rihtful king

Sih hou it ferde of al this thing,

Wherof the poeple stod in ese,

He, which for evere wolde plese 2940

The hihe god, whos thonk he soghte,

A wonder thing thanne him bethoghte,

And schop if that it myhte be,

Hou that his lawe in the cite

Mihte afterward for evere laste.

And therupon his wit he caste

What thing him were best to feigne,

That he his pourpos myhte atteigne.

A Parlement and thus he sette,

His wisdom wher that he besette 2950

P. iii. 185

In audience of grete and smale,1187

[Pg 314]

And in this wise he tolde his tale:

‘God wot, and so ye witen alle,

Hierafterward hou so it falle,

Yit into now my will hath be

To do justice and equite

In forthringe of comun profit:

Such hath ben evere my delit.

Bot of o thing I am beknowe,

The which mi will is that ye knowe: 2960

The lawe which I tok on honde,

Was altogedre of goddes sonde

And nothing of myn oghne wit;

So mot it nede endure yit,

And schal do lengere, if ye wile.

For I wol telle you the skile;

The god Mercurius and no man1188

He hath me tawht al that I can

Of suche lawes as I made,

Wherof that ye ben alle glade; 2970

It was the god and nothing I,

Which dede al this, and nou forthi

He hath comanded of his grace

That I schal come into a place

Which is forein out in an yle,

Wher I mot tarie for a while,

With him to speke, as he hath bede.1189

For as he seith, in thilke stede

He schal me suche thinges telle,

That evere, whyl the world schal duelle, 2980

P. iii. 186

Athenis schal the betre fare.

Bot ferst, er that I thider fare,

For that I wolde that mi lawe

Amonges you ne be withdrawe

Ther whyles that I schal ben oute,

Forthi to setten out of doute

Bothe you and me, this wol I preie,

That ye me wolde assure and seie(3000*)

With such an oth as I wol take,1190

[Pg 315]

That ech of you schal undertake 2990

Mi lawes forto kepe and holde.’

Thei seiden alle that thei wolde,

And therupon thei swore here oth,1191

That fro the time that he goth,

Til he to hem be come ayein,

Thei scholde hise lawes wel and plein

In every point kepe and fulfille.

Thus hath Ligurgius his wille,

And tok his leve and forth he wente.

Bot lest nou wel to what entente1192 3000

Of rihtwisnesse he dede so:

For after that he was ago,

He schop him nevere to be founde;1193

So that Athenis, which was bounde,

Nevere after scholde be relessed,1194

Ne thilke goode lawe cessed,

Which was for comun profit set.

And in this wise he hath it knet;

He, which the comun profit soghte,

The king, his oghne astat ne roghte; 3010

P. iii. 187

To do profit to the comune,

He tok of exil the fortune,

And lefte of Prince thilke office

Only for love and for justice,

Thurgh which he thoghte, if that he myhte,

For evere after his deth to rihte

The cite which was him betake.

Wherof men oghte ensample take

The goode lawes to avance

With hem which under governance1195 3020

The lawes have forto kepe;

For who that wolde take kepe

Of hem that ferst the lawes founde,

Als fer as lasteth eny bounde

Of lond, here names yit ben knowe:

And if it like thee to knowe

[Pg 316]

Some of here names hou thei stonde,

Nou herkne and thou schalt understonde.

[The First Law-givers.]

Of every bienfet the merite

The god himself it wol aquite; 3030

Hic ad eorum laudem, qui iusticie causa leges primo statuerunt, aliquorum nomina specialius commemorat.

And ek fulofte it falleth so,

The world it wole aquite also,

Bot that mai noght ben evene liche:

The god he yifth the heveneriche,

The world yifth only bot a name,

Which stant upon the goode fame

Of hem that don the goode dede.

And in this wise double mede

Resceiven thei that don wel hiere;

Wherof if that thee list to hiere1196 3040

P. iii. 188

After the fame as it is blowe,

Ther myht thou wel the sothe knowe,

Hou thilke honeste besinesse

Of hem that ferst for rihtwisnesse

Among the men the lawes made,

Mai nevere upon this erthe fade.

For evere, whil ther is a tunge,

Here name schal be rad and sunge

And holde in the Cronique write;

So that the men it scholden wite, 3050

To speke good, as thei wel oghten,

Of hem that ferst the lawes soghten

In forthringe of the worldes pes.

Unto thebreus was Moïses

The ferste, and to thegipciens

Mercurius, and to Troiens

Ferst was Neuma Pompilius,

To Athenes Ligurgius

Yaf ferst the lawe, and to Gregois

Foroneüs hath thilke vois,1197 3060

And Romulus to the Romeins.

For suche men that ben vileins

The lawe in such a wise ordeigneth,1198

That what man to the lawe pleigneth,

[Pg 317]

[Kings must keep the Laws.]

Be so the jugge stonde upriht,

He schal be served of his riht.

And so ferforth it is befalle

That lawe is come among ous alle:

God lieve it mote wel ben holde,

As every king therto is holde; 3070

P. iii. 189

For thing which is of kinges set,

With kinges oghte it noght be let.

What king of lawe takth no kepe,

Be lawe he mai no regne kepe.

Do lawe awey, what is a king?

Wher is the riht of eny thing,

If that ther be no lawe in londe?

This oghte a king wel understonde,

As he which is to lawe swore,

That if the lawe be forbore 3080

Withouten execucioun,

It makth a lond torne up so doun,

Which is unto the king a sclandre.

Forthi unto king Alisandre

The wise Philosophre bad,

That he himselve ferst be lad1199

Of lawe, and forth thanne overal

So do justice in general,1200(3100*)

That al the wyde lond aboute

The justice of his lawe doute, 3090

And thanne schal he stonde in reste.

For therto lawe is on the beste

Above alle other erthly thing,

To make a liege drede his king.

Bot hou a king schal gete him love

Toward the hihe god above,

And ek among the men in erthe,

This nexte point, which is the ferthe

Of Aristotles lore, it techeth:

Wherof who that the Scole secheth, 3100

P. iii. 190

What Policie that it is

The bok reherceth after this.

[Pg 318]

[The Fourth Point of Policy. Pity.]

x. Nil racionis habens vbi velle tirannica regna

Stringit, amor populi transiet exul ibi.1201

Set Pietas, regnum que conseruabit in euum,

Non tantum populo, set placet illa deo.

It nedeth noght that I delate

The pris which preised is algate,

Hic tractat de quarta Principum regiminis Policia, que Pietas dicta est; per quam Principes erga populum misericordes effecti misericordiam altissimi gracius1202 consequuntur.

And hath ben evere and evere schal,

Wherof to speke in special,

It is the vertu of Pite,

Thurgh which the hihe mageste

Was stered, whan his Sone alyhte,

And in pite the world to rihte 3110

Tok of the Maide fleissh and blod.

Pite was cause of thilke good,

Wherof that we ben alle save:

Wel oghte a man Pite to have

And the vertu to sette in pris,

Whan he himself which is al wys

Hath schewed why it schal be preised.

Pite may noght be conterpeised

Of tirannie with no peis;

For Pite makth a king courteis 3120

Bothe in his word and in his dede.

Nota.1203

It sit wel every liege drede

His king and to his heste obeie,

And riht so be the same weie

It sit a king to be pitous

Toward his poeple and gracious

P. iii. 191

Upon the reule of governance,

So that he worche no vengance,

Which mai be cleped crualte.

Justice which doth equite 3130

Is dredfull, for he noman spareth;

Bot in the lond wher Pite fareth

The king mai nevere faile of love,

For Pite thurgh the grace above,

So as the Philosophre affermeth,1204

[Pg 319]

His regne in good astat confermeth.*

*Thapostle James in this wise1205

Seith, what man scholde do juise,12063150*

And hath not pite forth with al,

The doom of him which demeth al

He may himself fulsore drede,

That him schal lakke upon the nede

To fynde pite, whan he wolde:

For who that pite wol biholde,—

It is a poynt of Cristes lore.

And for to loken overmore,

It is bihovely, as we fynde,

To resoun and to lawe of kynde.3160*

Cassodorus. Vbi regnat pietas, consolidatur regnum.

Cassodre in his apprise telleth,

‘The regne is sauf, wher pite duelleth.’

Tullius. Qui pietate vincitur scutum victorie merito gestabit.

And Tullius his tale avoweth,1207

And seith, ‘What king to pite boweth

And with pite stant overcome,

He hath that schield of grace nome,

P. iii. 192

Which to the kinges yifth victoire.’

Valerius narrat quod cum rex Alexander in ira sua quendam militem morti condempnasset, et ille appellauit, dixit rex, ‘In terra nullus maior me est: ad quem ergo appellas?’ Respondit miles, ‘Non a maiestate tua, set a sentencia ire tue tantum ad pietatem tuam appello.’ Et sic rex pietate motus ipsum in misericordiam benignissime suscepit.

Of Alisandre in his histoire

I rede how he a worthi knight

Of sodein wraththe and nought of right3170*

Forjugged hath, and he appeleth.

And with that word the king quereleth,

And seith, ‘Non is above me.’

‘That wot I wel my lord,’ quoth he;

‘Fro thy lordschipe appele I nought,

But fro thy wraththe in al my thought

To thy pitee stant myn appeel.

The king, which understod him wel,

Of pure pite yaf him grace.

And eek I rede in other place,3180*

Thus seide whilom etc. (as 3137 ff.)

Constantinus Imperator ait: ‘Vere se dominum esse comprobat, qui seruum pietatis se facit.’

Thus seide whilom Constantin:1208

‘What Emperour that is enclin

[Pg 320]

To Pite forto be servant,

Of al the worldes remenant 3140

He is worthi to ben a lord.’

Troianus ait, quod ipse subditos suos solite pietatis fauore magis quam austeritatis rigore regere, eorumque benevolenciam pocius quam timorem penes se attractare proponebat.1209

In olde bokes of record

This finde I write of essamplaire:1210

Troian the worthi debonaire,

Be whom that Rome stod governed,

Upon a time as he was lerned(3190*)

Of that he was to familier,

He seide unto that conseiller,1211

That forto ben an Emperour

His will was noght for vein honour, 3150

Ne yit for reddour of justice;

Bot if he myhte in his office

P. iii. 193

Hise lordes and his poeple plese,

Him thoghte it were a grettere ese

With love here hertes to him drawe,

Than with the drede of eny lawe.(3200*)

For whan a thing is do for doute,

Fulofte it comth the worse aboute;

Bot wher a king is Pietous,1212

He is the more gracious, 3160

That mochel thrift him schal betyde,

Which elles scholde torne aside.*

[Tale of the Jew and the Pagan.]

*To do pite support and grace,1213

The Philosophre upon a place

Hic in pietatis exemplum prout Aristotiles Regi Alexandro nuper rettulit, declarans scribit qualiter Iudeus pedester cum quodam pagano asinum equitante per desertum itinerando ipsum de secta et fide sua strictius interrogauit. Qui respondens ait: ‘Paganus sum et fides mea hec est, vt omnes vno animo diligam et penes vnumquemque tempore necessitatis pietatem1214 pro posse meo excerceam.’1215 Cui Iudeus: ‘Permitte me ergo, qui lassatus itinere deficio, aliquantulum equitare, et tu respectu pietatis ob meam recreacionem pedibus pro tempore1216 incedas.’ Et ita factum est, vnde postea paganus infra breue lassatus asino suo restitui1217 a Iudeo postulauit. At ille ait: ‘Nequaquam: quia fides mea est, vt illi qui sectam meam non credit, nocumentum1218 absque pietate prouocare debeo.’ Et hiis dictis asellum veloci passu coegit, et paganum a dorso illusum reliquit. Quod videns paganus in terram dolens corruit, extensisque in celum manibus summam iusticiam inuocabat. Postque a terra exurgens, cum paulisper deambulasset, respexit in quamdam vallem1219 Iudeum a leone in mortis articulo prostratum; et sic asinum suum cum gaudio resumens, pietatem magis quam austeritatem laudabilem decreuit.1220

In his writinge of daies olde

A tale of gret essample tolde3210*

Unto the king of Macedoine:

How betwen Kaire and Babeloine,1221

Whan comen is the somer heete,

It hapneth tuo men forto meete,

[Pg 321]

As thei scholde entren in a pas,

Wher that the wyldernesse was.

And as they wenten forth spekende

Under the large wodes ende,

That o man axeth of that other:

‘What man art thou, mi lieve brother?12223220*

Which is thi creance and thi feith?’

‘I am paien,’ that other seith,

‘And be the lawe which I use

I schal noght in mi feith refuse

P. iii. 194

To loven alle men aliche,

The povere bothe and ek the riche:

Whan thei ben glade I schal be glad,

And sori whan thei ben bestad;

So schal I live in unite

With every man in his degre.3230*

For riht as to miself I wolde,

Riht so toward alle othre I scholde1223

Be gracious and debonaire.

Thus have I told thee softe and faire

Mi feith, mi lawe, and mi creance;

And if thee list for aqueintance,

Now tell what maner man thou art.’

And he ansuerde upon his part:

‘I am a Jew, and be mi lawe

I schal to noman be felawe3240*

To kepe him trowthe in word ne dede,

Bot if he be withoute drede1224

A verrai Jew riht as am I:

For elles I mai trewely

[Pg 322]

Bereve him bothe lif and good.’

The paien herde and understod,

And thoghte it was a wonder lawe.

And thus upon here sondri sawe

Talkende bothe forth thei wente.

The dai was hoot, the sonne brente,3250*

The paien rod upon an asse,

And of his catell more and lasse

With him a riche trusse he ladde.

The Jew, which al untrowthe hadde,

P. iii. 195

And wente upon his feet beside,

Bethoghte him how he mihte ride;1225

And with his wordes slihe and wise

Unto the paien in this wise

He seide: ‘O, now it schal be seene

What thing it is thou woldest meene:3260*

For if thi lawe be certein

As thou hast told, I dar wel sein,

Thou wolt beholde mi destresse.

Which am so full of werinesse,

That I ne mai unethe go,1226

And let me ride a Myle or tuo,

So that I mai mi bodi ese.’

The paien wolde him noght desplese

Of that he spak, bot in pite

It list him forto knowe and se3270*

The pleignte which that other made;

And for he wolde his herte glade,

He lihte and made him nothing strange.

[Pg 323]

Thus was ther made a newe change,

The paien goth, the Jew alofte

Was sett upon his asse softe:

So gon thei forth carpende faste

Of this and that, til ate laste1227

The paien mihte go nomore,

And preide unto the Jew therfore3280*

To suffre him ride a litel while.

The Jew, which thoghte him to beguile,

Anon rod forth the grete pas,1228

And to the paien in this cas

P. iii. 196

He seide, ‘Thou hast do thi riht,

Of that thou haddest me behiht

To do socour upon mi nede;

And that acordeth to the dede,

As thou art to the lawe holde.

And in such wise as I thee tolde,3290*

I thenke also for mi partie

Upon the lawe of Juerie1229

To worche and do mi duete.

Thin asse schal go forth with me

With al thi good, which I have sesed;

And that I wot thou art desesed,

I am riht glad and noght mispaid.’

And whanne he hath these wordes said,

In alle haste he rod aweie.

This paien wot non other weie,3300*

Bot on the ground he kneleth evene,

His handes up unto the hevene,

And seide, ‘O hihe sothfastnesse,

[Pg 324]

That lovest alle rihtwisnesse,

Unto thi dom, lord, I appele;1230

Behold and deme mi querele,

With humble herte I thee beseche;

The mercy bothe and ek the wreche

I sette al in thi juggement.’

And thus upon his marrement3310*

This paien hath made his preiere:1231

And than he ros with drery chiere,1232

And goth him forth, and in his gate

He caste his yhe aboute algate,

P. iii. 197

The Jew if that he mihte se.

Bot for a time it mai noght be;

Til ate laste ayein the nyht,

So as god wolde, he wente ariht,

As he which hield the hihe weie,

And thanne he sih in a valleie3320*

Wher that the Jew liggende was,

Al blodi ded upon the gras,

Which strangled was of a leoun.

And as he lokede up and doun,

He fond his asse faste by

Forth with his harneis redely

Al hol and sound, as he it lefte,1233

Whan that the Jew it him berefte:

Wherof he thonketh god knelende.

Lo, thus a man mai knowe at ende,3330*

How the pitous pite deserveth.

For what man that to pite serveth,

[Pg 325]

As Aristotle it berth witnesse,

God schal hise foomen so represse,

That thei schul ay stonde under foote.

Pite, men sein, is thilke roote

Wherof the vertus springen alle:

What infortune that befalle

In eny lond, lacke of pite1234

Is cause of thilke adversite;3340*

And that aldai mai schewe at yhe,

Who that the world discretly syhe.1235

Good is that every man therfore

Take hiede of that is seid tofore;

P. iii. 198

For of this tale and othre ynowhe

These noble princes whilom drowhe

Here evidence and here aprise,

As men mai finde in many a wise,1236

Who that these olde bokes rede:

And thogh thei ben in erthe dede,3350*

Here goode name may noght deie

For Pite, which thei wolde obeie,

To do the dedes of mercy.

And who this tale redily

Remembre, as Aristotle it tolde,

He mai the will of god beholde

Upon the point as it was ended,

Wherof that pite stod commended,

Which is to charite felawe,

As thei that kepen bothe o lawe.12373360*

[Tale of Codrus.]

P. iii. 198, l. 17

Of Pite forto speke plein,

Which is with mercy wel besein,

Fulofte he wole himselve peine

Nota hic de Principis pietate erga populum, vbi narrat quod, cum Codrus Rex Athenarum contra Dorences bellum gerere deberet, consulto prius Appolline responsum accepit, quod vnum de duobus, videlicet aut seipsum in prelio interfici et populum suum saluari, aut populum interfici et se1238 saluum fieri, eligere oporteret. Super quo Rex pietate motus plebisque sue magis quam proprii corporis salutem affectans, mortem sibi preelegit; et sic bellum aggrediens pro vita multorum solus interiit.

To kepe an other fro the peine:

For Charite the moder is

Of Pite, which nothing amis

Can soffre, if he it mai amende.

It sit to every man livende 3170

To be Pitous, bot non so wel

As to a king, which on the whiel(3370*)

Fortune hath set aboven alle:

For in a king, if so befalle1239

That his Pite be ferme and stable,

To al the loud it is vailable

P. iii. 199

Only thurgh grace of his persone;

For the Pite of him al one

Mai al the large realme save.

So sit it wel a king to have 3180

Pite; for this Valeire tolde,

And seide hou that be daies olde(3380*)

Codrus, which was in his degre

King of Athenis the cite,

A werre he hadde ayein Dorrence:

And forto take his evidence1240

What schal befalle of the bataille,

He thoghte he wolde him ferst consaille

With Appollo, in whom he triste;

Thurgh whos ansuere this he wiste, 3190

Of tuo pointz that he myhte chese,

Or that he wolde his body lese(3390*)

And in bataille himselve deie,

Or elles the seconde weie,

To sen his poeple desconfit.

Bot he, which Pite hath parfit

Upon the point of his believe,

[Pg 326] The poeple thoghte to relieve,1241

And ches himselve to be ded.

Wher is nou such an other hed, 3200

Which wolde for the lemes dye?

And natheles in som partie(3400*)

It oghte a kinges herte stere,

That he hise liege men forbere.

And ek toward hise enemis

Fulofte he may deserve pris,

P. iii. 200

To take of Pite remembrance,

Wher that he myhte do vengance:

For whanne a king hath the victoire,

And thanne he drawe into memoire 3210

To do Pite in stede of wreche,

He mai noght faile of thilke speche

Wherof arist the worldes fame,

To yive a Prince a worthi name.

[Pompeius and the King of Armenia.]

I rede hou whilom that Pompeie,

To whom that Rome moste obeie,

Hic ponit exemplum de victoriosi Principis pietate erga aduersarios suos. Et narrat quod, cum Pompeius Romanorum Imperator Regem Armenie aduersarium suum in bello victum cepisset, captumque vinculis alligatum Rome tenuisset, tirannidis iracundie stimulos postponens, pietatis mansuetudinem operatus est. Dixit enim quod nobilius est Regem facere quam deponere: super quo dictum Regem absque vlla redempcione non solum a vinculis absoluit, set ad sui regni culmen gratuita voluntate coronatum restituit.1244

A werre hadde in jeupartie

Ayein the king of Ermenie,1242

Which of long time him hadde grieved.

Bot ate laste it was achieved 3220

That he this king desconfit hadde,

And forth with him to Rome ladde

As Prisoner, wher many a day

In sori plit and povere he lay,

The corone of his heved deposed,1243

Withinne walles faste enclosed;

And with ful gret humilite

He soffreth his adversite.

Pompeie sih his pacience

And tok pite with conscience, 3230

So that upon his hihe deis

Tofore al Rome in his Paleis,

As he that wolde upon him rewe,

Let yive him his corone newe

[Pg 327]

And his astat al full and plein1245

Restoreth of his regne ayein,

P. iii. 201

And seide it was more goodly thing

To make than undon a king,

To him which pouer hadde of bothe.

Thus thei, that weren longe wrothe, 3240

Acorden hem to final pes;

And yit justice natheles

Was kept and in nothing offended;

Wherof Pompeie was comended.1246

Ther mai no king himself excuse,

Bot if justice he kepe and use,

Which for teschuie crualte

He mot attempre with Pite.

[Cruelty.]

Of crualte the felonie

Engendred is of tirannie, 3250

Ayein the whos condicion

God is himself the champion,(3450*)

Whos strengthe mai noman withstonde.

For evere yit it hath so stonde,

That god a tirant overladde;

Bot wher Pite the regne ladde,

Ther mihte no fortune laste

Which was grevous, bot ate laste

The god himself it hath redresced.

Pite is thilke vertu blessed 3260

Which nevere let his Maister falle;

Bot crualte, thogh it so falle

That it mai regne for a throwe,

God wole it schal ben overthrowe:

Wherof ensamples ben ynowhe

Of hem that thilke merel drowhe.

[Cruelty of Leontius.]

P. iii. 202

Of crualte I rede thus:

Whan the tirant Leoncius

Hic loquitur contra illos, qui tirannica potestate principatum obtinentes in1247 iniquitatis sue malicia gloriantur. Et narrat exemplum,1248 qualiter Leoncius tirannus pium Iustinianum non solum a solio imperatorie maiestatis fraudulenter expulit, set vt ipse inhabilis ad regnum in1249 aspectu plebis efficeretur, naso et labris abscisis, ipsum tirannice mutulauit. Deus tamen, qui super omnia pius est, Tiberio superueniente vna cum adiutorio Terbellis Bulgarie Regis, Iustinianum interfecto Leoncio ad imperium restitui misericorditer procurauit.

Was to thempire of Rome arrived,

Fro which he hath with strengthe prived1250 3270

The pietous Justinian,1251

[Pg 328]

As he which was a cruel man,

His nase of and his lippes bothe

He kutte, for he wolde him lothe

Unto the poeple and make unable.

Bot he which is al merciable,1252

The hihe god, ordeigneth so,

That he withinne a time also,

Whan he was strengest in his ire,1253

Was schoven out of his empire. 3280

Tiberius the pouer hadde,

And Rome after his will he ladde,

And for Leonce in such a wise

Ordeigneth, that he tok juise

Of nase and lippes bothe tuo,

For that he dede an other so,

Which more worthi was than he.

Lo, which a fall hath crualte,

And Pite was set up ayein:

For after that the bokes sein, 3290

Therbellis king of Bulgarie

With helpe of his chivalerie

Justinian hath unprisoned

And to thempire ayein coroned.

[Cruelty of Siculus.]

In a Cronique I finde also

Of Siculus, which was ek so

P. iii. 203

Hic loquitur vlterius de crudelitate Siculi tiranni,1254 necnon et de Berillo eiusdem Consiliario, qui ad tormentum populi quendam taurum eneum tirannica coniectura fabricari constituit; in quo tamen ipse prior, proprio crimine illud exigente, vsque ad sui interitus expiracionem iudicialiter torquebatur.

A cruel king lich the tempeste,

The whom no Pite myhte areste,—1255

He was the ferste, as bokes seie,

Upon the See which fond Galeie 3300

And let hem make for the werre,—

As he which al was out of herre(3500*)

Fro Pite and misericorde;

For therto couthe he noght acorde,

Bot whom he myhte slen, he slouh,

And therof was he glad ynouh.

[Pg 329]

He hadde of conseil manyon,

Among the whiche ther was on,

Be name which Berillus hihte;

And he bethoghte him hou he myhte 3310

Unto the tirant do likinge,

And of his oghne ymaginynge

Let forge and make a Bole of bras,

And on the side cast ther was

A Dore, wher a man mai inne,

Whan he his peine schal beginne

Thurgh fyr, which that men putten under.

And al this dede he for a wonder,

That whanne a man for peine cride,

The Bole of bras, which gapeth wyde, 3320

It scholde seme as thogh it were

A belwinge in a mannes Ere,

And noght the criinge of a man.

Bot he which alle sleihtes can,

The devel, that lith in helle fast,

Him that this caste hath overcast,1256

P. iii. 204

That for a trespas which he dede

He was putt in the same stede,

And was himself the ferste of alle

Which was into that peine falle1257 3330

That he for othre men ordeigneth;

Ther was noman which him compleigneth.1258

Of tirannie and crualte

Be this ensample a king mai se,

Himself and ek his conseil bothe,

Hou thei ben to mankinde lothe

And to the god abhominable.

Ensamples that ben concordable1259

I finde of othre Princes mo,

As thou schalt hiere, of time go.1260 3340

The grete tirant Dionys,

Which mannes lif sette of no pris,1261

[Pg 330]

[Dionysius and his Horses.]

Unto his hors fulofte he yaf

The men in stede of corn and chaf,

Nota hic de Dionisio tiranno, qui mire crudelitatis seueritate eciam hospites suos ad deuorandum equis suis tribuit: cui Hercules tandem superueniens victum impium in impietate sua pari morte conclusit.

So that the hors of thilke stod

Devoureden the mennes blod;

Til fortune ate laste cam,

That Hercules him overcam,

And he riht in the same wise

Of this tirant tok the juise: 3350

As he til othre men hath do,

The same deth he deide also,(3550*)

That no Pite him hath socoured,

Til he was of hise hors devoured.

[Lichaon.]

Of Lichaon also I finde

Hou he ayein the lawe of kinde

P. iii. 205

Nota hic de consimili Lichaontis tirannia, qui carnes hominum hominibus in suo hospicio ad vescendum dedit; cuius formam condicioni similem Iupiter1262 coequans ipsum in lupum transformauit.

Hise hostes slouh, and into mete

He made her bodies to ben ete

With othre men withinne his hous.

Bot Jupiter the glorious, 3360

Which was commoeved of this thing,

Vengance upon this cruel king

So tok, that he fro mannes forme

Into a wolf him let transforme:

And thus the crualte was kidd,

Which of long time he hadde hidd;

A wolf he was thanne openly,

The whos nature prively

He hadde in his condicion.

And unto this conclusioun, 3370

That tirannie is to despise,

I finde ensample in sondri wise,

And nameliche of hem fulofte,

The whom fortune hath set alofte

Upon the werres forto winne.

Bot hou so that the wrong beginne

Of tirannie, it mai noght laste,

Bot such as thei don ate laste

To othre men, such on hem falleth;

For ayein suche Pite calleth 3380

[Pg 331]

Vengance to the god above.

For who that hath no tender love

In savinge of a mannes lif,

He schal be founde so gultif,

That whanne he wolde mercy crave

[Nobleness of the Lion.]

In time of nede, he schal non have.

P. iii. 206

Of the natures this I finde,1263

Nota qualiter Leo hominibus stratis parcit.

The fierce Leon in his kinde,

Which goth rampende after his preie,

If he a man finde in his weie, 3390

He wole him slen, if he withstonde.

Bot if the man coude understonde

To falle anon before his face

In signe of mercy and of grace,

The Leon schal of his nature

Restreigne his ire in such mesure,

As thogh it were a beste tamed,1264

And torne awey halfvinge aschamed,

That he the man schal nothing grieve.

Hou scholde than a Prince achieve 3400

The worldes grace, if that he wolde

Destruie a man whanne he is yolde(3600*)

And stant upon his mercy al?

Bot forto speke in special,

Ther have be suche and yit ther be

Tirantz, whos hertes no pite

Mai to no point of mercy plie,

That thei upon her tirannie

Ne gladen hem the men to sle;

And as the rages of the See 3410

Ben unpitous in the tempeste,

Riht so mai no Pite areste1265

Of crualte the gret oultrage,

Which the tirant in his corage

Engendred hath: wherof I finde

A tale, which comth nou to mynde.

P. iii. 207

I rede in olde bokes thus:

[Pg 332]

[Spertachus and Thamaris.]

Ther was a Duk, which Spertachus

Men clepe, and was a werreiour,

Hic loquitur precipue1266 contra tirannos illos qui, cum in bello vincere possunt, humani sanguinis effusione saturari nequiunt. Et narrat in exemplum de quodam Persarum Rege, cuius nomen Spertachus erat, qui pre ceteris tunc in Oriente bellicosus et victoriosus, quoscunque gladio vincere poterat, absque pietate interfici constituit. Set tandem sub manu Thamaris Marsegetarum Regine in bello captus, quod a diu quesivit, seueritatem pro seueritate finaliter inuenit. Nam et ipsa quoddam vas de sanguine Persarum plenum ante se afferri1267 decreuit, in quo caput tiranni vsque ad mortem mergens dixit: ‘O tirannorum crudelissime, semper esuriens sanguinem sitisti: ecce iam ad saturitatem sanguinem bibe.’

A cruel man, a conquerour 3420

With strong pouer the which he ladde.

For this condicion he hadde,

That where him hapneth the victoire,1268

His lust and al his moste gloire

Was forto sle and noght to save:

Of rancoun wolde he no good have

For savinge of a mannes lif,

Bot al goth to the swerd and knyf,

So lief him was the mannes blod.1269

And natheles yit thus it stod, 3430

So as fortune aboute wente,

He fell riht heir as be descente1270

To Perse, and was coroned king.

And whan the worschipe of this thing

Was falle, and he was king of Perse,

If that thei weren ferst diverse,

The tirannies whiche he wroghte,

A thousendfold welmore he soghte

Thanne afterward to do malice.

The god vengance ayein the vice1271 3440

Hath schape: for upon a tyde,

Whan he was heihest in his Pride,

In his rancour and in his hete

Ayein the queene of Marsagete,

Which Thameris that time hihte,

He made werre al that he myhte:

P. iii. 208

And sche, which wolde hir loud defende,

Hir oghne Sone ayein him sende,1272

Which the defence hath undertake.

Bot he desconfit was and take; 3450

And whan this king him hadde in honde,

He wol no mercy understonde,(3650*)

Bot dede him slen in his presence.

[Pg 333]

The tidinge of this violence1273

Whan it cam to the moder Ere,

Sche sende anon ay wydewhere

To suche frendes as sche hadde,

A gret pouer til that sche ladde.

In sondri wise and tho sche caste

Hou sche this king mai overcaste; 3460

And ate laste acorded was,

That in the danger of a pass,

Thurgh which this tirant scholde passe,

Sche schop his pouer to compasse1274

With strengthe of men be such a weie1275

That he schal noght eschape aweie.

And whan sche hadde thus ordeigned,

Sche hath hir oghne bodi feigned,

For feere as thogh sche wolde flee

Out of hir lond: and whan that he 3470

Hath herd hou that this ladi fledde,

So faste after the chace he spedde,

That he was founde out of array.

For it betidde upon a day,

Into the pas whanne he was falle,

Thembuisschementz tobrieken alle1276

P. iii. 209

And him beclipte on every side,

That fle ne myhte he noght aside:

So that ther weren dede and take

Tuo hundred thousend for his sake, 3480

That weren with him of his host.

And thus was leid the grete bost

Of him and of his tirannie:1277

It halp no mercy forto crie1278

To him which whilom dede non;

For he unto the queene anon

Was broght, and whan that sche him sih,

This word sche spak and seide on hih:

‘O man, which out of mannes kinde

[Pg 334]

Reson of man hast left behinde 3490

And lived worse than a beste,

Whom Pite myhte noght areste,

The mannes blod to schede and spille

Thou haddest nevere yit thi fille.

Bot nou the laste time is come,

That thi malice is overcome:

As thou til othre men hast do,

Nou schal be do to thee riht so.’

Tho bad this ladi that men scholde

A vessel bringe, in which sche wolde 3500

Se the vengance of his juise,

Which sche began anon devise;(3700*)

And tok the Princes whiche he ladde,

Be whom his chief conseil he hadde,

And whil hem lasteth eny breth,1279

Sche made hem blede to the deth

P. iii. 210

Into the vessel wher it stod:

And whan it was fulfild of blod,

Sche caste this tirant therinne,

And seide him, ‘Lo, thus myht thou wynne1280 3510

The lustes of thin appetit.

In blod was whilom thi delit,

Nou schalt thou drinken al thi fille.’

And thus onliche of goddes wille,

He which that wolde himselve strange

To Pite, fond mercy so strange,

That he withoute grace is lore.

So may it schewe wel therfore

That crualte hath no good ende;

Bot Pite, hou so that it wende, 3520

Makth that the god is merciable,

If ther be cause resonable

Why that a king schal be pitous.1281

Bot elles, if he be doubtous

To slen in cause of rihtwisnesse,

It mai be said no Pitousnesse,

Bot it is Pusillamite,

[Pg 335]

[Mercy must be without Weakness.]

Which every Prince scholde flee.

For if Pite mesure excede,

Kinghode may noght wel procede1282 3530

To do justice upon the riht:

For it belongeth to a knyht

Als gladly forto fihte as reste,

To sette his liege poeple in reste,

Whan that the werre upon hem falleth;

For thanne he mote, as it befalleth,

P. iii. 211

Of his knyhthode as a Leon

Be to the poeple a champioun

Withouten eny Pite feigned.

For if manhode be restreigned, 3540

Or be it pes or be it werre,

Justice goth al out of herre,

So that knyhthode is set behinde.

Of Aristotles lore I finde,

A king schal make good visage,

That noman knowe of his corage

Bot al honour and worthinesse:

For if a king schal upon gesse

Withoute verrai cause drede,

He mai be lich to that I rede; 3550

And thogh that it be lich a fable,1283

Thensample is good and resonable.(3750*)

[The Mountain and the Mouse.]

As it be olde daies fell,

I rede whilom that an hell

Hic loquitur secundum Philosophum, dicens quod sicut non decet Principes tirannica impetuositate esse crudeles, ita nec decet timorosa pusillanimitate esse vecordes.

Up in the londes of Archade

A wonder dredful noise made;1284

For so it fell that ilke day,

This hell on his childinge lay,

And whan the throwes on him come,

His noise lich the day of dome 3560

Was ferfull in a mannes thoght

Of thing which that thei sihe noght,

Bot wel thei herden al aboute

The noise, of which thei were in doute,

[Pg 336]

As thei that wenden to be lore

Of thing which thanne was unbore.

P. iii. 212

The nerr this hell was upon chance

To taken his deliverance,

The more unbuxomliche he cride;

And every man was fledd aside, 3570

For drede and lefte his oghne hous:

And ate laste it was a Mous,

The which was bore and to norrice

Betake; and tho thei hield hem nyce,1285

For thei withoute cause dradde.1286

Thus if a king his herte ladde

With every thing that he schal hiere,

Fulofte he scholde change his chiere

And upon fantasie drede,

Whan that ther is no cause of drede. 3580

Nota hic secundum Oracium de magnanimo Yacide et pusillanime Thersite.

Orace to his Prince tolde,

That him were levere that he wolde

Upon knihthode Achillem suie

In time of werre, thanne eschuie,

So as Tersites dede at Troie.

Achilles al his hole joie

Sette upon Armes forto fihte;

Tersites soghte al that he myhte

Unarmed forto stonde in reste:1287

Bot of the tuo it was the beste 3590

That Achilles upon the nede

Hath do, wherof his knyhtlihiede1288

Is yit comended overal.

Salomon. Tempus belli, tempus pacis.

King Salomon in special

Seith, as ther is a time of pes,

So is a time natheles

P. iii. 213

Of werre, in which a Prince algate

Schal for the comun riht debate

And for his oghne worschipe eke.

Bot it behoveth noght to seke 3600

[Pg 337]

[There is a time for War.]

Only the werre for worschipe,

Bot to the riht of his lordschipe,(3800*)

Which he is holde to defende,

Mote every worthi Prince entende.

Nota qualiter inter duo extrema consistit virtus.

Betwen the simplesce of Pite

And the folhaste of crualte,

Wher stant the verray hardiesce,1289

Ther mote a king his herte adresce,

Whanne it is time to forsake,

And whan time is also to take 3610

The dedly werres upon honde,

That he schal for no drede wonde,

If rihtwisnesse be withal.

For god is myhty overal

To forthren every mannes trowthe,1290

Bot it be thurgh his oghne slowthe;

And namely the kinges nede

It mai noght faile forto spede,

For he stant one for hem alle;

So mote it wel the betre falle 3620

And wel the more god favoureth,

Whan he the comun riht socoureth.

And forto se the sothe in dede,

Behold the bible and thou myht rede

Of grete ensamples manyon,

Wherof that I wol tellen on.

[Story of Gideon.]

P. iii. 214

Upon a time as it befell,

Ayein Judee and Irahel1291

Whan sondri kinges come were

Hic dicit quod Princeps iusticie causa bellum nullo modo timere debet. Et narrat qualiter dux Gedeon cum solis tricentis viris quinque Reges, scilicet Madianitarum, Amalechitarum, Amonitarum, Amoreorum et Iebuseorum, cum eorum excercitu, qui ad lxxxx^ta Milia numeratus est, gracia cooperante diuina, victoriose in fugam conuertit.

In pourpos to destruie there 3630

The poeple which god kepte tho,—

And stod in thilke daies so,

That Gedeon, which scholde lede

The goddes folk, tok him to rede,

And sende in al the lond aboute,

Til he assembled hath a route

With thritti thousend of defence,

[Pg 338]

To fihte and make resistence

Ayein the whiche hem wolde assaille:1292

And natheles that o bataille 3640

Of thre that weren enemys1293

Was double mor than was al his;

Wherof that Gedeon him dradde,

That he so litel poeple hadde.

Bot he which alle thing mai helpe,

Wher that ther lacketh mannes helpe,

To Gedeon his Angel sente,

And bad, er that he forther wente,

Al openly that he do crie

That every man in his partie 3650

Which wolde after his oghne wille

In his delice abide stille1294(3850*)

At hom in eny maner wise,

For pourchas or for covoitise,

For lust of love or lacke of herte,

He scholde noght aboute sterte,

P. iii. 215

Bot holde him stille at hom in pes:

Wherof upon the morwe he les

Wel twenty thousend men and mo,

The whiche after the cri ben go. 3660

Thus was with him bot only left

The thridde part, and yit god eft

His Angel sende and seide this

To Gedeon: ‘If it so is

That I thin help schal undertake,

Thou schalt yit lasse poeple take,

Be whom mi will is that thou spede.

Forthi tomorwe tak good hiede,

Unto the flod whan ye be come,

What man that hath the water nome 3670

Up in his hond and lapeth so,

To thi part ches out alle tho;1295

And him which wery is to swinke,

Upon his wombe and lith to drinke,

[Pg 339]

Forsak and put hem alle aweie.

For I am myhti alle weie,

Wher as me list myn help to schewe1296

In goode men, thogh thei ben fewe.’

This Gedeon awaiteth wel,

Upon the morwe and everydel, 3680

As god him bad, riht so he dede.

And thus ther leften in that stede

With him thre hundred and nomo,1297

The remenant was al ago:

Wherof that Gedeon merveileth,

And therupon with god conseileth,

P. iii. 216

Pleignende as ferforth as he dar.

And god, which wolde he were war1298

That he schal spede upon his riht,1299

Hath bede him go the same nyht 3690

And take a man with him, to hiere

What schal be spoke in his matere1300

Among the hethen enemis;

So mai he be the more wys,

What afterward him schal befalle.

This Gedeon amonges alle

Phara, to whom he triste most,

Be nyhte tok toward thilke host,

Which logged was in a valleie,

To hiere what thei wolden seie; 3700

Upon his fot and as he ferde,1301

Tuo Sarazins spekende he herde.(3900*)

Quod on, ‘Ared mi swevene ariht,

Which I mette in mi slep to nyht.1302

Me thoghte I sih a barli cake,

Which fro the Hull his weie hath take,

And cam rollende doun at ones;

And as it were for the nones,

Forth in his cours so as it ran,

The kinges tente of Madian, 3710

[Pg 340]

Of Amalech, of Amoreie,

Of Amon and of Jebuseie,

And many an other tente mo

With gret noise, as me thoghte tho,

It threw to grounde and overcaste,

And al this host so sore agaste1303

P. iii. 217

That I awok for pure drede.’

‘This swevene can I wel arede,’

Quod thother Sarazin anon:

‘The barli cake is Gedeon, 3720

Which fro the hell doun sodeinly

Schal come and sette such ascry

Upon the kinges and ous bothe,

That it schal to ous alle lothe:

For in such drede he schal ous bringe,

That if we hadden flyht of wynge,

The weie on fote in desespeir1304

We scholden leve and flen in their,1305

For ther schal nothing him withstonde.’

Whan Gedeon hath understonde 3730

This tale, he thonketh god of al,

And priveliche ayein he stal,

So that no lif him hath perceived.

And thanne he hath fulli conceived

That he schal spede; and therupon

The nyht suiende he schop to gon

This multitude to assaile.

Nou schalt thou hiere a gret mervaile,

With what voisdie that he wroghte.

The litel poeple which he broghte, 3740

Was non of hem that he ne hath

A pot of erthe, in which he tath

A lyht brennende in a kressette,

And ech of hem ek a trompette

Bar in his other hond beside;

And thus upon the nyhtes tyde

P. iii. 218

Duk Gedeon, whan it was derk,

Ordeineth him unto his werk,1306

[Pg 341]

And parteth thanne his folk in thre,

And chargeth hem that thei ne fle, 3750

And tawhte hem hou they scholde ascrie

Alle in o vois per compaignie,1307(3950*)

And what word ek thei scholden speke,

And hou thei scholde here pottes breke

Echon with other, whan thei herde

That he himselve ferst so ferde;

For whan thei come into the stede,

He bad hem do riht as he dede.

And thus stalkende forth a pas

This noble Duk, whan time was, 3760

His pot tobrak and loude ascride,

And tho thei breke on every side.

The trompe was noght forto seke;1308

He blew, and so thei blewen eke

With such a noise among hem alle,

As thogh the hevene scholde falle.

The hull unto here vois ansuerde,

This host in the valleie it herde,

And sih hou that the hell alyhte;

So what of hieringe and of sihte, 3770

Thei cawhten such a sodein feere,

That non of hem belefte there:

The tentes hole thei forsoke,1309

That thei non other good ne toke,

Bot only with here bodi bare

Thei fledde, as doth the wylde Hare.

P. iii. 219

And evere upon the hull thei blewe,

Til that thei sihe time, and knewe

That thei be fled upon the rage;

And whan thei wiste here avantage, 3780

Thei felle anon unto the chace.

Thus myht thou sen hou goddes grace

Unto the goode men availeth;

But elles ofte time it faileth

To suche as be noght wel disposed.

This tale nedeth noght be glosed,

[Pg 342]

For it is openliche schewed

That god to hem that ben wel thewed

Hath yove and granted the victoire:

So that thensample of this histoire 3790

Is good for every king to holde;

Ferst in himself that he beholde

If he be good of his livinge,

And that the folk which he schal bringe

Be good also, for thanne he may

Be glad of many a merie day,

In what as evere he hath to done.1310

For he which sit above the Mone

And alle thing mai spille and spede,

In every cause, in every nede1311 3800

His goode king so wel adresceth,

That alle his fomen he represseth,(4000*)

So that ther mai noman him dere;

And als so wel he can forbere,

And soffre a wickid king to falle

In hondes of his fomen alle.

[Saul and Agag.]

P. iii. 220

Nou forthermore if I schal sein

Of my matiere, and torne ayein

Hic dicit quod vbi et quando causa et tempus requirunt, princeps illos sub potestate sua, quos iusticie aduersarios agnouerit, occidere de iure tenetur. Et narrat in exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Saul Regem Agag in bello deuictum iuxta Samuelis consilium occidere noluit, ipse diuino iudicio non solum a regno Israel priuatus, set et heredes sui pro perpetuo exheredati sunt.

To speke of justice and Pite

After the reule of realte, 3810

This mai a king wel understonde,

Knihthode mot ben take on honde,

Whan that it stant upon the nede:

He schal no rihtful cause drede,

Nomore of werre thanne of pes,

If he wol stonde blameles;

For such a cause a king mai have

That betre him is to sle than save,

Wherof thou myht ensample finde.1312

The hihe makere of mankinde 3820

Be Samuel to Saül bad,

That he schal nothing ben adrad

Ayein king Agag forto fihte;

[Pg 343]

For this the godhede him behihte,

That Agag schal ben overcome:

And whan it is so ferforth come,

That Saül hath him desconfit,

The god bad make no respit,

That he ne scholde him slen anon.

Bot Saül let it overgon 3830

And dede noght the goddes heste:

For Agag made gret beheste

Of rancoun which he wolde yive,

King Saül soffreth him to live

And feigneth pite forth withal.

Bot he which seth and knoweth al,

P. iii. 221

The hihe god, of that he feigneth

To Samuel upon him pleigneth.

And sende him word, for that he lefte

Of Agag that he ne berefte 3840

The lif, he schal noght only dye

Himself, bot fro his regalie

He schal be put for everemo,

Noght he, bot ek his heir also,

That it schal nevere come ayein.

[David and Joab.]

Thus myht thou se the sothe plein,

Hic narrat vlterius super eodem, qualiter Dauid in extremis iusticie causa vt Ioab occideretur absque vlla remissione filio suo Salomoni iniunxit.

That of tomoche and of tolyte

Upon the Princes stant the wyte.

Bot evere it was a kinges riht

To do the dedes of a knyht; 3850

For in the handes of a king

The deth and lif is al o thing(4050*)

After the lawes of justice.

To slen it is a dedly vice,1313

Bot if a man the deth deserve;

And if a king the lif preserve

Of him which oghte forto dye,

He suieth noght thensamplerie

Which in the bible is evident:

Hou David in his testament, 3860

Whan he no lengere myhte live,1314

Unto his Sone in charge hath yive

[Pg 344]

That he Joab schal slen algate;

And whan David was gon his gate,

The yonge wise Salomon

His fader heste dede anon,

P. iii. 222

And slouh Joab in such a wise,

That thei that herden the juise

Evere after dradden him the more,

And god was ek wel paid therfore, 3870

That he so wolde his herte plye

The lawes forto justefie.

And yit he kepte forth withal

Pite, so as a Prince schal,

That he no tirannie wroghte;

He fond the wisdom which he soghte,

And was so rihtful natheles,

That al his lif he stod in pes,

That he no dedly werres hadde,

For every man his wisdom dradde. 3880

And as he was himselve wys,

Riht so the worthi men of pris

He hath of his conseil withholde;

For that is every Prince holde,

To make of suche his retenue

Whiche wise ben, and to remue

The foles: for ther is nothing

Which mai be betre aboute a king,

Than conseil, which is the substance

Of all a kinges governance. 3890

[Solomon’s Wisdom.]

In Salomon a man mai see

What thing of most necessite

Hic dicit quod populum sibi commissum bene regere super omnia Principi laudabilius est. Et narrat in exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Salomon, vt populum bene regeret, ab altissimo sapienciam specialius postulauit, omnia bona pariter cum illa sibi habundancius aduenerunt.

Unto a worthi king belongeth.

Whan he his kingdom underfongeth,

God bad him chese what he wolde,

And seide him that he have scholde

P. iii. 223

What he wolde axe, as of o thing.

And he, which was a newe king,

Forth therupon his bone preide

To god, and in this wise he seide: 3900

‘O king, be whom that I schal regne,

[Pg 345]

Yif me wisdom, that I my regne,1315(4100*)

Forth with thi poeple which I have,1316

To thin honour mai kepe and save.’

Whan Salomon his bone hath taxed,

The god of that which he hath axed

Was riht wel paid, and granteth sone

Noght al only that he his bone

Schal have of that, bot of richesse,

Of hele, of pes, of hih noblesse, 3910

Forth with wisdom at his axinges,

Which stant above alle othre thinges.

Bot what king wole his regne save,

Hic dicit secundum Salomonem, quod regie maiestatis imperium ante omnia sano consilio dirigendum est.

Ferst him behoveth forto have

After the god and his believe

Such conseil which is to believe,

Fulfild of trouthe and rihtwisnesse:

Bot above alle in his noblesse

Betwen the reddour and pite

A king schal do such equite 3920

And sette the balance in evene,

So that the hihe god in hevene

And al the poeple of his nobleie

Loange unto his name seie.

For most above all erthli good,

Wher that a king himself is good

P. iii. 224

It helpeth, for in other weie

If so be that a king forsueie,

Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achiui.

Fulofte er this it hath be sein,

The comun poeple is overlein 3930

And hath the kinges Senne aboght,

Al thogh the poeple agulte noght.

Of that the king his god misserveth,

The poeple takth that he descerveth

Hier in this world, bot elleswhere

I not hou it schal stonde there.

Forthi good is a king to triste

Ferst to himself, as he ne wiste

Non other help hot god alone;

[Pg 346]

So schal the reule of his persone 3940

Withinne himself thurgh providence

Ben of the betre conscience.

And forto finde ensample of this,

A tale I rede, and soth it is.

[The Courtiers and the Fool.]

In a Cronique it telleth thus:

The king of Rome Lucius

Withinne his chambre upon a nyht

Hic de Lucio Imperatore exemplum ponit, qualiter Princeps sui nominis famam a secretis consiliariis sapienter inuestigare debet; et si quid in ea sinistrum inuenerit, prouisa discrecione ad dexteram conuertat.

The Steward of his hous, a knyht,

Forth with his Chamberlein also,

To conseil hadde bothe tuo, 3950

And stoden be the Chiminee

Togedre spekende alle thre.(4150*)

And happeth that the kinges fol

Sat be the fyr upon a stol,

As he that with his babil pleide,

Bot yit he herde al that thei seide,

P. iii. 225

And therof token thei non hiede.

The king hem axeth what to rede

Of such matiere as cam to mouthe,

And thei him tolden as thei couthe. 3960

Whan al was spoke of that thei mente,

The king with al his hole entente

Thanne ate laste hem axeth this,

What king men tellen that he is:

Among the folk touchende his name,

Or be it pris, or be it blame,

Riht after that thei herden sein,

He bad hem forto telle it plein,

That thei no point of soth forbere,

Be thilke feith that thei him bere. 3970

The Steward ferst upon this thing

Yaf his ansuere unto the king

And thoghte glose in this matiere,

And seide, als fer as he can hiere,

His name is good and honourable:

Thus was the Stieward favorable,

That he the trouthe plein ne tolde.

The king thanne axeth, as he scholde,

[Pg 347]

The Chamberlein of his avis.

And he, that was soubtil and wys, 3980

And somdiel thoghte upon his feith,

Him tolde hou al the poeple seith

That if his conseil were trewe,

Thei wiste thanne wel and knewe1317

That of himself he scholde be

A worthi king in his degre:

P. iii. 226

And thus the conseil he accuseth

In partie, and the king excuseth.

The fol, which herde of al the cas1318

That time, as goddes wille was,1319 3990

Sih that thei seiden noght ynowh,

And hem to skorne bothe lowh,

And to the king he seide tho:

‘Sire king, if that it were so,

Of wisdom in thin oghne mod

That thou thiselven were good,

Thi conseil scholde noght be badde.’

The king therof merveille hadde,

Whan that a fol so wisly spak,

And of himself fond out the lack 4000

Withinne his oghne conscience:

And thus the foles evidence,(4200*)

Which was of goddes grace enspired,

Makth that good conseil was desired.1320

He putte awey the vicious

And tok to him the vertuous;

The wrongful lawes ben amended,

The londes good is wel despended,

The poeple was nomore oppressed,

And thus stod every thing redressed. 4010

For where a king is propre wys,

And hath suche as himselven is

Of his conseil, it mai noght faile

That every thing ne schal availe:

The vices thanne gon aweie,

And every vertu holt his weie;

[Pg 348]

P. iii. 227

Wherof the hihe god is plesed,

And al the londes folk is esed.

For if the comun poeple crie,

And thanne a king list noght to plie1321 4020

To hiere what the clamour wolde,

And otherwise thanne he scholde

Desdeigneth forto don hem grace,

It hath be sen in many place,

Ther hath befalle gret contraire;

And that I finde of ensamplaire.

[Folly of Rehoboam.]

After the deth of Salomon,

Whan thilke wise king was gon,

Hic dicit quod Seniores magis experti ad Principis consilium admittendi pocius existunt. Et narrat qualiter, pro eo quod Roboas Salomonis filius et heres senium sermonibus renuncians dicta iuuenum preelegit, de xii. tribubus Israel a dominio suo x. penitus amisit, et sic cum duabus tantummodo illusus postea regnauit.

And Roboas in his persone

Receive scholde the corone, 4030

The poeple upon a Parlement1322

Avised were of on assent,

And alle unto the king thei preiden,

With comun vois and thus thei seiden:

‘Oure liege lord, we thee beseche

That thou receive oure humble speche

And grante ous that which reson wile,1323

Or of thi grace or of thi skile.

Thi fader, whil he was alyve

And myhte bothe grante and pryve, 4040

Upon the werkes whiche he hadde

The comun poeple streite ladde:

Whan he the temple made newe,

Thing which men nevere afore knewe1324

He broghte up thanne of his taillage,

And al was under the visage

P. iii. 228

Of werkes whiche he made tho.

Bot nou it is befalle so,

That al is mad, riht as he seide,

And he was riche whan he deide; 4050

So that it is no maner nede,

If thou therof wolt taken hiede,(4250*)

[Pg 349]

To pilen of the poeple more,

Which long time hath be grieved sore.

And in this wise as we thee seie,

With tendre herte we thee preie

That thou relesse thilke dette,

Which upon ous thi fader sette.

And if thee like to don so,

We ben thi men for everemo, 4060

To gon and comen at thin heste.’

The king, which herde this requeste,

Seith that he wole ben avised,

And hath therof a time assised;

And in the while as he him thoghte

Upon this thing, conseil he soghte.

And ferst the wise knyhtes olde,

To whom that he his tale tolde,

De consilio Senium.

Conseilen him in this manere;

That he with love and with glad chiere 4070

Foryive and grante al that is axed

Of that his fader hadde taxed;

For so he mai his regne achieve

With thing which schal him litel grieve.

The king hem herde and overpasseth,

And with these othre his wit compasseth,

P. iii. 229

That yonge were and nothing wise.

And thei these olde men despise,

De consilio iuuenum.

And seiden: ‘Sire, it schal be schame

For evere unto thi worthi name, 4080

If thou ne kepe noght the riht,1325

Whil thou art in thi yonge myht,

Which that thin olde fader gat.

Bot seie unto the poeple plat,

That whil thou livest in thi lond,

The leste finger of thin hond

It schal be strengere overal

Than was thi fadres bodi al.

And this also schal be thi tale,

If he hem smot with roddes smale, 4090

With Scorpions thou schalt hem smyte;1326

[Pg 350]

And wher thi fader tok a lyte,1327

Thou thenkst to take mochel more.1328

Thus schalt thou make hem drede sore

The grete herte of thi corage,

So forto holde hem in servage.’

This yonge king him hath conformed

To don as he was last enformed,

Which was to him his undoinge:

For whan it cam to the spekinge, 4100

He hath the yonge conseil holde,

That he the same wordes tolde(4300*)

Of al the poeple in audience;

And whan thei herden the sentence

Of his malice and the manace,

Anon tofore his oghne face

P. iii. 230

Thei have him oultreli refused

And with ful gret reproef accused.

So thei begunne forto rave,

That he was fain himself to save; 4110

For as the wilde wode rage

Of wyndes makth the See salvage,

And that was calm bringth into wawe,

So for defalte of grace and lawe

This poeple is stered al at ones1329

And forth thei gon out of hise wones;

So that of the lignages tuelve

Tuo tribes only be hemselve

With him abiden and nomo:

So were thei for everemo 4120

Of no retorn withoute espeir

Departed fro the rihtfull heir.

Al Irahel with comun vois1330

A king upon here oghne chois

Among hemself anon thei make,

And have here yonge lord forsake;

A povere knyht Jeroboas

Thei toke, and lefte Roboas,

[Pg 351]

Which rihtfull heir was be descente.

Lo, thus the yonge cause wente: 4130

For that the conseil was noght good,

The regne fro the rihtfull blod

Evere afterward divided was.

So mai it proven be this cas

That yong conseil, which is to warm,

Er men be war doth ofte harm.

P. iii. 231

Old age for the conseil serveth,

And lusti youthe his thonk deserveth

Upon the travail which he doth;

And bothe, forto seie a soth, 4140

Be sondri cause forto have,

If that he wole his regne save,

A king behoveth every day.

That on can and that other mai,

Be so the king hem bothe reule,

For elles al goth out of reule.

[Wisdom in a King’s Council.]

And upon this matiere also

A question betwen the tuo

Nota questionem cuiusdam Philosophi, vtrum regno conueniencius foret principem cum malo consilio optare sapientem, quam cum sano consilio ipsum eligere insipientem.

Thus writen in a bok I fond;

Wher it be betre for the lond 4150

A king himselve to be wys,

And so to bere his oghne pris,(4350*)

And that his consail be noght good,

Or other wise if it so stod,

A king if he be vicious

And his conseil be vertuous.

It is ansuerd in such a wise,

That betre it is that thei be wise

Be whom that the conseil schal gon,

For thei be manye, and he is on;1331 4160

And rathere schal an one man1332

With fals conseil, for oght he can,

From his wisdom be mad to falle,

Thanne he al one scholde hem alle

Fro vices into vertu change,

For that is wel the more strange.

[Pg 352]

[Mercy and Justice.]

P. iii. 232

Forthi the lond mai wel be glad,

Whos king with good conseil is lad,

Which set him unto rihtwisnesse,

So that his hihe worthinesse 4170

Betwen the reddour and Pite

Doth mercy forth with equite.

A king is holden overal

To Pite, bot in special1333

To hem wher he is most beholde;

Thei scholde his Pite most beholde

That ben the Lieges of his lond,

For thei ben evere under his hond

After the goddes ordinaunce

To stonde upon his governance. 4180

Nota adhuc precipue de principis erga suos subditos debita pietate. Legitur enim qualiter Anthonius a Cipione exemplificatus dixit, quod mallet vnum de populo sibi commisso virum saluare, quam centum ex hostibus alienigenis in bello perdere.

Of themperour Anthonius

I finde hou that he seide thus,

That levere him were forto save1334

Oon of his lieges than to have

Of enemis a thousend dede.1335

And this he lernede, as I rede,1336

Of Cipio, which hadde be

Consul of Rome. And thus to se

Diverse ensamples hou thei stonde,

A king which hath the charge on honde 4190

The comun poeple to governe,

If that he wole, he mai wel lerne.

Is non so good to the plesance

Of god, as is good governance;1337

And every governance is due

To Pite: thus I mai argue

P. iii. 233

That Pite is the foundement

Of every kinges regiment,

If it be medled with justice.

Thei tuo remuen alle vice, 4200

And ben of vertu most vailable

To make a kinges regne stable.(4400*)

Lo, thus the foure pointz tofore,

In governance as thei ben bore,

[Pg 353]

Of trouthe ferst and of largesse,

Of Pite forth with rihtwisnesse,

I have hem told; and over this

The fifte point, so as it is1338

Set of the reule of Policie,

Wherof a king schal modefie 4210

The fleisschly lustes of nature,

Nou thenk I telle of such mesure,1339

That bothe kinde schal be served

And ek the lawe of god observed.

[The Fifth Point of Policy. Chastity.]

xi. Corporis et mentis regem decet omnis honestas,

Nominis vt famam nulla libido ruat.

Omne quod est hominis effeminat illa voluptas,

Sit nisi magnanimi cordis, vt obstet ei.

The Madle is mad for the femele,

Bot where as on desireth fele,

That nedeth noght be weie of kinde:

Hic tractat secundum Aristotelem de quinta principum regiminis Policia, que Castitatem concernit, cuius honestas impudicicie motus obtemperans tam corporis quam anime mundiciam specialius preseruat.

For whan a man mai redy finde

His oghne wif, what scholde he seche

In strange places to beseche 4220

To borwe an other mannes plouh,

Whan he hath geere good ynouh1340

P. iii. 234

Affaited at his oghne heste,

And is to him wel more honeste

Than other thing which is unknowe?

Forthi scholde every good man knowe

And thenke, hou that in mariage

His trouthe plight lith in morgage,

Which if he breke, it is falshode,

And that descordeth to manhode, 4230

And namely toward the grete,

Wherof the bokes alle trete;

So as the Philosophre techeth

To Alisandre, and him betecheth

The lore hou that he schal mesure

His bodi, so that no mesure

Of fleisshly lust he scholde excede.

[Pg 354]

And thus forth if I schal procede,

The fifte point, as I seide er,1341

Is chastete, which sielde wher 4240

Comth nou adaies into place;

And natheles, bot it be grace

Above alle othre in special,

Is non that chaste mai ben all.

Bot yit a kinges hihe astat,1342

Which of his ordre as a prelat

Schal ben enoignt and seintefied,

He mot be more magnefied

For dignete of his corone,

Than scholde an other low persone, 4250

Which is noght of so hih emprise.

Therfore a Prince him scholde avise,(4450*)

P. iii. 235

Er that he felle in such riote,

And namely that he nassote

To change for the wommanhede

The worthinesse of his manhede.

Nota de doctrina Aristotilis, qualiter Princeps, vt animi sui iocunditatem prouocet, mulieres formosas crebro aspicere debet. Caueat tamen, ne mens voluptuosa torpescens ex carnis fragilitate in vicium dilabatur.

Of Aristotle I have wel rad,

Hou he to Alisandre bad,

That forto gladen his corage

He schal beholde the visage 4260

Of wommen, whan that thei ben faire.

Bot yit he set an essamplaire,1343

His bodi so to guide and reule,

That he ne passe noght the reule,

Wherof that he himself beguile.

For in the womman is no guile1344

Of that a man himself bewhapeth;

Whan he his oghne wit bejapeth,

I can the wommen wel excuse:1345

Bot what man wole upon hem muse 4270

After the fool impression

Of his ymaginacioun,

Withinne himself the fyr he bloweth,

Wherof the womman nothing knoweth,

[Pg 355]

So mai sche nothing be to wyte.

For if a man himself excite

To drenche, and wol it noght forbere,1346

The water schal no blame bere.

What mai the gold, thogh men coveite?

If that a man wol love streite, 4280

The womman hath him nothing bounde;

If he his oghne herte wounde,

P. iii 236

Sche mai noght lette the folie;

And thogh so felle of compainie

That he myht eny thing pourchace,

Yit makth a man the ferste chace,

The womman fleth and he poursuieth:

So that be weie of skile it suieth,

The man is cause, hou so befalle,

That he fulofte sithe is falle 4290

Wher that he mai noght wel aryse.

And natheles ful manye wise

Befoled have hemself er this,

As nou adaies yit it is

Among the men and evere was,

The stronge is fieblest in this cas.

It sit a man be weie of kinde

To love, bot it is noght kinde

A man for love his wit to lese:

For if the Monthe of Juil schal frese 4300

And that Decembre schal ben hot,

The yeer mistorneth, wel I wot.(4500*)

To sen a man fro his astat

Thurgh his sotie effeminat,

And leve that a man schal do,

It is as Hose above the Scho,

To man which oghte noght ben used.

Bot yit the world hath ofte accused

Ful grete Princes of this dede,

Hou thei for love hemself mislede, 4310

Wherof manhode stod behinde,

Of olde ensamples as I finde.1347

[Pg 356]

[Evil Example of Sardanapalus.]

P. iii. 237

These olde gestes tellen thus,

That whilom Sardana Pallus,1348

Hic ponit exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Sardana Pallus1349 Assiriorum Princeps muliebri1350 oblectamento effeminatus sue concupiscencie torporem quasi ex consuetudine adhibebat, a Barbaro Rege Medorum super hoc insidiante in sui feruoris maiori voluptate1351 subitis mutacionibus extinctus est.

Which hield al hol in his empire

The grete kingdom of Assire,

Was thurgh the slouthe of his corage

Falle into thilke fyri rage

Of love, which the men assoteth,

Wherof himself he so rioteth, 4320

And wax so ferforth womannyssh,1352

That ayein kinde, as if a fissh

Abide wolde upon the lond,

In wommen such a lust he fond,

That he duelte evere in chambre stille,

And only wroghte after the wille

Of wommen, so as he was bede,

That selden whanne in other stede

If that he wolde wenden oute,

To sen hou that it stod aboute. 4330

Bot ther he keste and there he pleide,1353

Thei tawhten him a Las to breide,

And weve a Pours, and to enfile

A Perle: and fell that ilke while,

On Barbarus the Prince of Mede

Sih hou this king in wommanhede1354

Was falle fro chivalerie,

And gat him help and compaignie,

And wroghte so, that ate laste

This king out of his regne he caste, 4340

Which was undon for everemo:

And yit men speken of him so,

P. iii. 238

That it is schame forto hiere.

[David.]

Forthi to love is in manere.

Nota qualiter Dauid amans mulieres propter hoc probitatem Armorum non minus excercuit.

King David hadde many a love,

Bot natheles alwey above

Knyhthode he kepte in such a wise,

That for no fleisshli covoitise

[Pg 357]

Of lust to ligge in ladi armes

He lefte noght the lust of armes. 4350

For where a Prince hise lustes suieth,

That he the werre noght poursuieth,(4550*)

Whan it is time to ben armed,

His contre stant fulofte harmed,

Whan thenemis ben woxe bolde,

That thei defence non beholde.

Ful many a lond hath so be lore,1355

As men mai rede of time afore

Of hem that so here eses soghten,

Which after thei full diere aboghten. 4360

[Cyrus and the Lydians.]

To mochel ese is nothing worth,

For that set every vice forth1356

Hic loquitur qualiter regnum lasciuie voluptatibus deditum de facili vincitur.1357 Et ponit exemplum de Ciro Rege Persarum, qui cum Liddos mire1358 probitatis strenuissimos sibique in bello aduersantes nullo modo vincere potuit, cum ipsis tandem pacis tractatum dissimilans concordiam finalem stabiliri1359 finxit. Super quo Liddi postea per aliquod tempus armis insoliti sub pacis torpore1360 voluptatibus intendebant: quod Cirus percipiens in eos armatus subito irruit, ipsosque indefencibiles1361 vincens sub imperio tributarios subiugauit.

And every vertu put abak,

Wherof priss torneth into lak,

As in Cronique I mai reherse:

Which telleth hou the king of Perse,

That Cirus hihte, a werre hadde

Ayein a poeple which he dradde,

Of a contre which Liddos hihte;

Bot yit for oght that he do mihte 4370

As in bataille upon the werre,

He hadde of hem alwey the werre.

P. iii. 239

And whan he sih and wiste it wel,

That he be strengthe wan no del,

Thanne ate laste he caste a wyle

This worthi poeple to beguile,

And tok with hem a feigned pes,

Which scholde lasten endeles,

So as he seide in wordes wise,

Bot he thoghte al in other wise. 4380

For it betidd upon the cas,1362

Whan that this poeple in reste was,

Thei token eses manyfold;

And worldes ese, as it is told,

[Pg 358]

Be weie of kinde is the norrice

Of every lust which toucheth vice.

Thus whan thei were in lustes falle,

The werres ben foryeten alle;

Was non which wolde the worschipe

Of Armes, hot in idelschipe 4390

Thei putten besinesse aweie

And token hem to daunce and pleie;

Bot most above alle othre thinges

Thei token hem to the likinges

Of fleysshly lust, that chastete1363

Received was in no degre,

Bot every man doth what him liste.

And whan the king of Perse it wiste,

That thei unto folie entenden,

With his pouer, whan thei lest wenden, 4400

Mor sodeinly than doth the thunder

He cam, for evere and put hem under.1364(4600*)

P. iii. 240

And thus hath lecherie lore

The lond, which hadde be tofore

The beste of hem that were tho.

[The Counsel of Balaam.]

And in the bible I finde also

A tale lich unto this thing,

Nota hic1365 qualiter fata bellica luxus infortunat. Et narrat quod cum Rex Amalech Hebreis sibi insultantibus resistere nequiit, consilio Balaam mulieres regni sui pulcherrimas in castra Hebreorum misit; qui ab ipsis contaminati1366 graciam statim amiserunt. Et sic ab Amalech deuicti in magna multitudine gladio ceciderunt.

Hou Amalech the paien king,

Whan that he myhte be no weie

Defende his lond and putte aweie 4410

The worthi poeple of Irael,1367

This Sarazin, as it befell,

Thurgh the conseil of Balaam

A route of faire wommen nam,

That lusti were and yonge of Age,1368

And bad hem gon to the lignage

Of these Hebreus: and forth thei wente

With yhen greye and browes bente

And wel arraied everych on;

And whan thei come were anon 4420

[Pg 359]

Among thebreus, was non insihte,

Bot cacche who that cacche myhte,

And ech of hem hise lustes soghte,

Whiche after thei full diere boghte.1369

For grace anon began to faile,

That whan thei comen to bataille

Thanne afterward, in sori plit

Thei were take and disconfit,

So that withinne a litel throwe

The myht of hem was overthrowe, 4430

That whilom were wont to stonde.

Til Phinces the cause on honde

P. iii. 241

Hath take, this vengance laste,

Bot thanne it cessede ate laste,

For god was paid of that he dede:1370

For wher he fond upon a stede

A couple which misferde so,

Thurghout he smot hem bothe tuo,

And let hem ligge in mennes yhe;

Wherof alle othre whiche hem sihe 4440

Ensamplede hem upon the dede,

And preiden unto the godhiede

Here olde Sennes to amende:

And he, which wolde his mercy sende,

Restorede hem to newe grace.

Thus mai it schewe in sondri place,

Of chastete hou the clennesse

Acordeth to the worthinesse

Of men of Armes overal;

Bot most of alle in special 4450

This vertu to a king belongeth,

For upon his fortune it hongeth(4650*)

Of that his lond schal spede or spille.

Forthi bot if a king his wille

Fro lustes of his fleissh restreigne,

Ayein himself he makth a treigne,

Into the which if that he slyde,

Him were betre go besyde.

For every man mai understonde,

[Pg 360]

Hou for a time that it stonde, 4460

It is a sori lust to lyke,

Whos ende makth a man to syke

P. iii. 242

And torneth joies into sorwe.

The brihte Sonne be the morwe

Beschyneth noght the derke nyht,

The lusti youthe of mannes myht,

In Age bot it stonde wel,

Mistorneth al the laste whiel.

[Evil Example of Solomon.]

That every worthi Prince is holde

Withinne himself himself beholde, 4470

Hic loquitur qualiter Principum irregulata voluptas eos a semita recta multociens deuiare compellit. Et narrat exemplum de Salomone, qui ex sue carnis concupiscencia victus mulierum blandimentis in sui scandalum deos alienos eolere presumebat.

To se the stat of his persone,1371

And thenke hou ther be joies none

Upon this Erthe mad to laste,

And hou the fleissh schal ate laste

The lustes of this lif forsake,

Him oghte a gret ensample take

Of Salomon, whos appetit

Was holy set upon delit,

To take of wommen the plesance:

So that upon his ignorance 4480

The wyde world merveileth yit,

That he, which alle mennes wit

In thilke time hath overpassed,

With fleisshly lustes was so tassed,

That he which ladde under the lawe

The poeple of god, himself withdrawe

He hath fro god in such a wise,

That he worschipe and sacrifise

For sondri love in sondri stede

Unto the false goddes dede. 4490

This was the wise ecclesiaste,

The fame of whom schal evere laste,1372

P. iii. 243

That he the myhti god forsok,

Ayein the lawe whanne he tok

Hise wyves and hise concubines

Of hem that weren Sarazines,

For whiche he dede ydolatrie.

[Pg 361]

For this I rede of his sotie:

Sche of Sidoyne so him ladde,

De filia Regis Cidonie.

That he knelende hise armes spradde 4500

To Astrathen with gret humblesse,

Which of hire lond was the goddesse:(4700*)

De filia Regis Moab.

And sche that was a Moabite

So ferforth made him to delite

Thurgh lust, which al his wit devoureth,

That he Chamos hire god honoureth.

De filia Regis Amon.

An other Amonyte also

With love him hath assoted so,

Hire god Moloch that with encense

He sacreth, and doth reverence 4510

In such a wise as sche him bad.

Thus was the wiseste overlad

With blinde lustes whiche he soghte:

Bot he it afterward aboghte.

[Division of his Kingdom.]

For Achias Selonites,

Which was prophete, er his decess,

Nota hic qualiter Achias propheta, in signum quod regnum post mortem Salomonis ob eius peccatum a suo herede diminueretur, pallium suum in xii. partes scidit, vnde x. partes Ieroboe filio Nabal, qui regnaturus postea successit, precepto dei tribuit.

Whil he was in hise lustes alle,

Betokneth what schal after falle.

For on a day, whan that he mette

Jeroboam the knyht, he grette 4520

And bad him that he scholde abyde,

To hiere what him schal betyde.

P. iii. 244

And forth withal Achias caste

His mantell of, and also faste

He kut it into pieces twelve,1373

Wherof tuo partz toward himselve1374

He kepte, and al the remenant,

As god hath set his covenant,

He tok unto Jeroboas,

Of Nabal which the Sone was 4530

And of the kinges court a knyht:

And seide him, ‘Such is goddes myht,

As thou hast sen departed hiere

Mi mantell, riht in such manere

After the deth of Salomon

God hath ordeigned therupon,

[Pg 362]

This regne thanne he schal divide:

Which time thou schalt ek abide,

And upon that division

The regne as in proporcion 4540

As thou hast of mi mantell take,

Thou schalt receive, I undertake.

And thus the Sone schal abie

The lustes and the lecherie

Of him which nou his fader is.’

So forto taken hiede of this,

It sit a king wel to be chaste,

For elles he mai lihtly waste

Himself and ek his regne bothe,

And that oghte every king to lothe. 4550

O, which a Senne violent,

Wherof so wys a king was schent,(4750*)

P. iii. 245

That the vengance in his persone

Was noght ynouh to take al one,

Bot afterward, whan he was passed,

It hath his heritage lassed,

As I more openli tofore1375

The tale tolde. And thus therfore

Aristotiles.1376 O Alexander, super omnia consulo, conserua tibi calorem naturalem.

The Philosophre upon this thing

Writ and conseileth to a king, 4560

That he the surfet of luxure

Schal tempre and reule of such mesure,

Which be to kinde sufficant

And ek to reson acordant,

So that the lustes ignorance

Be cause of no misgovernance,

Thurgh which that he be overthrowe,

As he that wol no reson knowe.

For bot a mannes wit be swerved,

Whan kinde is dueliche served, 4570

It oghte of reson to suffise;

For if it falle him otherwise,1377

He mai tho lustes sore drede.1378

[Pg 363]

[Antonius.]

For of Anthonie thus I rede,1379

De voluptuoso Antonio.

Which of Severus was the Sone,

That he his lif of comun wone

Yaf holy unto thilke vice,

And ofte time he was so nyce,

Wherof nature hire hath compleigned

Unto the god, which hath desdeigned 4580

The werkes whiche Antonie wroghte1380

Of lust, whiche he ful sore aboghte:

P. iii. 246

For god his forfet hath so wroke

That in Cronique it is yit spoke.

Bot forto take remembrance

Of special misgovernance

Thurgh covoitise and injustice

Forth with the remenant of vice,

And nameliche of lecherie,

I finde write a gret partie 4590

Withinne a tale, as thou schalt hiere,

Which is thensample of this matiere.

[Tarquin and his son Aruns.]

So as these olde gestes sein,

The proude tirannyssh Romein

Hic loquitur de Tarquino nuper Rome1381 Imperatore, necnon et de eiusdem filio nomine Arrons, qui omni viciorum varietate repleti tam in homines quam in mulieres innumera scelera perpetrarunt: set specialiter super hiis que contra Gabinos fraudulenter operati sunt tractare intendit.

Tarquinus, which was thanne king

And wroghte many a wrongful thing,

Of Sones hadde manyon,

Among the whiche Arrons was on,

Lich to his fader of maneres;

So that withinne a fewe yeres 4600

With tresoun and with tirannie

Thei wonne of lond a gret partie,(4800*)

And token hiede of no justice,

Which due was to here office

Upon the reule of governance;

Bot al that evere was plesance

Unto the fleisshes lust thei toke.

And fell so, that thei undertoke

A werre, which was noght achieved,

[Pg 364]

Bot ofte time it hadde hem grieved,1382 4610

Ayein a folk which thanne hihte1383

The Gabiens: and al be nyhte

P. iii. 247

This Arrons, whan he was at hom

In Rome, a prive place he nom

Withinne a chambre, and bet himselve

And made him woundes ten or tuelve

Upon the bak, as it was sene;

And so forth with hise hurtes grene

In al the haste that he may

He rod, and cam that other day 4620

Unto Gabie the Cite,

And in he wente: and whan that he

Was knowe, anon the gates schette,

The lordes alle upon him sette

With drawe swerdes upon honde.

This Arrons wolde hem noght withstonde,

Bot seide, ‘I am hier at your wille,

Als lief it is that ye me spille,1384

As if myn oghne fader dede.’

And forthwith in the same stede 4630

He preide hem that thei wolde se,

And schewede hem in what degre

His fader and hise brethren bothe,

Whiche, as he seide, weren wrothe,

Him hadde beten and reviled,

For evere and out of Rome exiled.

And thus he made hem to believe,

And seide, if that he myhte achieve

His pourpos, it schal wel be yolde,

Be so that thei him helpe wolde. 4640

Whan that the lordes hadde sein1385

Hou wofully he was besein,

P. iii. 248

Thei token Pite of his grief;

Bot yit it was hem wonder lief

That Rome him hadde exiled so.

These Gabiens be conseil tho1386

Upon the goddes made him swere,

[Pg 365]

That he to hem schal trouthe bere

And strengthen hem with al his myht;

And thei also him have behiht 4650

To helpen him in his querele.

Thei schopen thanne for his hele(4850*)

That he was bathed and enoignt,

Til that he was in lusti point;

And what he wolde thanne he hadde,

That he al hol the cite ladde

Riht as he wolde himself divise.

And thanne he thoghte him in what wise

He myhte his tirannie schewe;

And to his conseil tok a schrewe, 4660

Whom to his fader forth he sente

In his message, and he tho wente,1387

And preide his fader forto seie

Be his avis, and finde a weie,

Hou they the cite myhten winne,

Whil that he stod so wel therinne.

And whan the messager was come

To Rome, and hath in conseil nome

The king, it fell per chance so

That thei were in a gardin tho, 4670

This messager forth with the king.

And whanne he hadde told the thing

P. iii. 249

In what manere that it stod,

And that Tarquinus understod

Be the message hou that it ferde,

Anon he tok in honde a yerde,

And in the gardin as thei gon,

The lilie croppes on and on,

Wher that thei weren sprongen oute,

He smot of, as thei stode aboute, 4680

And seide unto the messager:

‘Lo, this thing, which I do nou hier,

Schal ben in stede of thin ansuere;

And in this wise as I me bere,

Thou schalt unto mi Sone telle.’

And he no lengere wolde duelle,

[Pg 366]

Bot tok his leve and goth withal

Unto his lord and told him al,1388

Hou that his fader hadde do.

Whan Arrons herde him telle so, 4690

Anon he wiste what it mente,

And therto sette al his entente,

Til he thurgh fraude and tricherie

The Princes hefdes of Gabie

Hath smiten of, and al was wonne:

His fader cam tofore the Sonne

Into the toun with the Romeins,

And tok and slowh the citezeins

Withoute reson or pite,

That he ne spareth no degre. 4700

And for the sped of this conqueste

He let do make a riche feste(4900*)

P. iii. 250

With a sollempne Sacrifise

In Phebus temple; and in this wise

Whan the Romeins assembled were,

In presence of hem alle there,

Upon thalter whan al was diht

And that the fyres were alyht,

From under thalter sodeinly

An hidous Serpent openly 4710

Cam out and hath devoured al

The Sacrifice, and ek withal

The fyres queynt, and forth anon,

So as he cam, so is he gon

Into the depe ground ayein.

And every man began to sein,

‘Ha lord, what mai this signefie?’

And therupon thei preie and crie

To Phebus, that thei mihten knowe

The cause: and he the same throwe 4720

With gastly vois, that alle it herde,

The Romeins in this wise ansuerde,

And seide hou for the wikkidnesse

Of Pride and of unrihtwisnesse,

That Tarquin and his Sone hath do,

[Pg 367]

The Sacrifice is wasted so,

Which myhte noght ben acceptable

Upon such Senne abhominable.

And over that yit he hem wisseth,

And seith that which of hem ferst kisseth 4730

His moder, he schal take wrieche

Upon the wrong: and of that speche

P. iii. 251

Thei ben withinne here hertes glade,

Thogh thei outward no semblant made.

Ther was a knyht which Brutus hihte,

And he with al the haste he myhte

To grounde fell and therthe kiste,1389

Bot non of hem the cause wiste,

Bot wenden that he hadde sporned

Per chance, and so was overtorned. 4740

Bot Brutus al an other mente;

For he knew wel in his entente

Hou therthe of every mannes kinde

Is Moder: bot thei weren blinde,

And sihen noght so fer as he.

Bot whan thei leften the Cite1390

And comen hom to Rome ayein,

Thanne every man which was Romein

And moder hath, to hire he bende

And keste, and ech of hem thus wende 4750

To be the ferste upon the chance,

Of Tarquin forto do vengance,(4950*)

So as thei herden Phebus sein.

[The Rape of Lucrece.]

Bot every time hath his certein,1391

So moste it nedes thanne abide,

Til afterward upon a tyde

Hic narrat quod, cum Tarquinus in obsidione Ciuitatis Ardee, vt eam destrueret, intentus fuit, Arrons filius eius Romam secreto adiens in domo Collatini hospitatus est; vbi de nocte illam castissimam dominam Lucreciam ymaginata fraude vi oppressit: vnde illa pre dolore mortua, ipse cum Tarquino patre suo tota conclamante Roma in perpetuum exilium delegati sunt.

Tarquinus made unskilfully

A werre, which was fasteby

Ayein a toun with walles stronge

Which Ardea was cleped longe, 4760

And caste a Siege theraboute,

That ther mai noman passen oute.

[Pg 368]

P. iii. 252

So it befell upon a nyht,

Arrons, which hadde his souper diht,

A part of the chivalerie

With him to soupe in compaignie

Hath bede: and whan thei comen were

And seten at the souper there,

Among here othre wordes glade

Arrons a gret spekinge made, 4770

Who hadde tho the beste wif

Of Rome: and ther began a strif,1392

For Arrons seith he hath the beste.

So jangle thei withoute reste,

Til ate laste on Collatin,

A worthi knyht, and was cousin

To Arrons, seide him in this wise:

‘It is,’ quod he, ‘of non emprise

To speke a word, bot of the dede,

Therof it is to taken hiede.1393 4780

Anon forthi this same tyde

Lep on thin hors and let ous ryde:

So mai we knowe bothe tuo

Unwarli what oure wyves do,

And that schal be a trewe assay.’

This Arrons seith noght ones nay:

On horse bak anon thei lepte

In such manere, and nothing slepte,

Ridende forth til that thei come

Al prively withinne Rome; 4790

In strange place and doun thei lihte,

And take a chambre, and out of sihte

P. iii. 253

Thei be desguised for a throwe,

So that no lif hem scholde knowe.

And to the paleis ferst thei soghte,1394

To se what thing this ladi wroghte1395

Of which Arrons made his avant:

And thei hire sihe of glad semblant,

Al full of merthes and of bordes;

Bot among alle hire othre wordes 4800

[Pg 369]

Sche spak noght of hire housebonde.

And whan thei hadde al understonde(5000*)

Of thilke place what hem liste,1396

Thei gon hem forth, that non it wiste,

Beside thilke gate of bras,

Collacea which cleped was,

Wher Collatin hath his duellinge.

Ther founden thei at hom sittinge

Lucrece his wif, al environed

With wommen, whiche are abandoned1397 4810

To werche, and sche wroghte ek withal,

And bad hem haste, and seith, ‘It schal1398

Be for mi housebondes were,

Which with his swerd and with his spere1399

Lith at the Siege in gret desese.

And if it scholde him noght displese,

Nou wolde god I hadde him hiere;

For certes til that I mai hiere

Som good tidinge of his astat,

Min herte is evere upon debat. 4820

For so as alle men witnesse,

He is of such an hardiesse,

P. iii. 254

That he can noght himselve spare,

And that is al my moste care,

Whan thei the walles schulle assaile.1400

Bot if mi wisshes myhte availe,

I wolde it were a groundles pet,

Be so the Siege were unknet,

And I myn housebonde sihe.’

With that the water in hire yhe 4830

Aros, that sche ne myhte it stoppe,

And as men sen the dew bedroppe1401

The leves and the floures eke,

Riht so upon hire whyte cheke

The wofull salte teres felle.

Whan Collatin hath herd hire telle

The menynge of hire trewe herte,

[Pg 370]

Anon with that to hire he sterte,

And seide, ‘Lo, mi goode diere,

Nou is he come to you hiere, 4840

That ye most loven, as ye sein.’

And sche with goodly chiere ayein

Beclipte him in hire armes smale,

And the colour, which erst was pale,

To Beaute thanne was restored,

So that it myhte noght be mored.

The kinges Sone, which was nyh,

And of this lady herde and syh

The thinges as thei ben befalle,

The resoun of hise wittes alle 4850

Hath lost; for love upon his part

Cam thanne, and of his fyri dart(5050*)

P. iii. 255

With such a wounde him hath thurghsmite,

That he mot nedes fiele and wite

Of thilke blinde maladie,

To which no cure of Surgerie

Can helpe. Bot yit natheles

At thilke time he hield his pes,

That he no contienance made,

Bot openly with wordes glade, 4860

So as he couthe in his manere,

He spak and made frendly chiere,

Til it was time forto go.

And Collatin with him also

His leve tok, so that be nyhte

With al the haste that thei myhte

Thei riden to the Siege ayein.

Bot Arrons was so wo besein

With thoghtes whiche upon him runne,

That he al be the brode Sunne 4870

To bedde goth, noght forto reste,

Bot forto thenke upon the beste

And the faireste forth withal,

That evere he syh or evere schal,

So as him thoghte in his corage,

Where he pourtreieth hire ymage:

Ferst the fetures of hir face,

[Pg 371]

In which nature hadde alle grace

Of wommanly beaute beset,

So that it myhte noght be bet;1402 4880

And hou hir yelwe her was tresced1403

And hire atir so wel adresced,

P. iii. 256

And hou sche spak, and hou sche wroghte,

And hou sche wepte, al this he thoghte,

That he foryeten hath no del,

Bot al it liketh him so wel,1404

That in the word nor in the dede1405

Hire lacketh noght of wommanhiede.

And thus this tirannysshe knyht

Was soupled, bot noght half ariht, 4890

For he non other hiede tok,

Bot that he myhte be som crok,

Althogh it were ayein hire wille,

The lustes of his fleissh fulfille;

Which love was noght resonable,

For where honour is remuable,

It oghte wel to ben avised.

Bot he, which hath his lust assised

With melled love and tirannie,

Hath founde upon his tricherie 4900

A weie which he thenkth to holde,

Audaces fortuna iuuat.

And seith, ‘Fortune unto the bolde(5100*)

Is favorable forto helpe.’

And thus withinne himself to yelpe,

As he which was a wylde man,

Upon his treson he began:

And up he sterte, and forth he wente

On horsebak, bot his entente

Ther knew no wiht, and thus he nam

The nexte weie, til he cam 4910

Unto Collacea the gate

Of Rome, and it was somdiel late,

P. iii. 257

Riht evene upon the Sonne set,

As he which hadde schape his net1406

Hire innocence to betrappe.

[Pg 372]

And as it scholde tho mishappe,

Als priveliche as evere he myhte

He rod, and of his hors alyhte1407

Tofore Collatines In,

And al frendliche he goth him in,1408 4920

As he that was cousin of house.

And sche, which is the goode spouse,

Lucrece, whan that sche him sih,

With goodli chiere drowh him nyh,

As sche which al honour supposeth,

And him, so as sche dar, opposeth

Hou it stod of hire housebonde.

And he tho dede hire understonde

With tales feigned in his wise,1409

Riht as he wolde himself devise, 4930

Wherof he myhte hire herte glade,

That sche the betre chiere made,

Whan sche the glade wordes herde,

Hou that hire housebonde ferde.

And thus the trouthe was deceived

With slih tresoun, which was received

To hire which mente alle goode;

For as the festes thanne stode,

His Souper was ryht wel arraied.

Bot yit he hath no word assaied1410 4940

To speke of love in no degre;

Bot with covert soubtilite

P. iii. 258

His frendly speches he affaiteth,

And as the Tigre his time awaiteth1411

In hope forto cacche his preie.

Whan that the bordes were aweie

And thei have souped in the halle,

He seith that slep is on him falle,

And preith he moste go to bedde;

And sche with alle haste spedde, 4950

So as hire thoghte it was to done,

That every thing was redi sone.(5150*)

Sche broghte him to his chambre tho

[Pg 373]

And tok hire leve, and forth is go

Into hire oghne chambre by,

As sche that wende certeinly

Have had a frend, and hadde a fo,

Wherof fell after mochel wo.

This tirant, thogh he lyhe softe,

Out of his bed aros fulofte, 4960

And goth aboute, and leide his Ere

To herkne, til that alle were

To bedde gon and slepten faste.

And thanne upon himself he caste

A mantell, and his swerd al naked

He tok in honde; and sche unwaked

Abedde lay, but what sche mette,

God wot; for he the Dore unschette

So prively that non it herde,

The softe pas and forth he ferde 4970

Unto the bed wher that sche slepte,1412

Al sodeinliche and in he crepte,

P. iii. 259

And hire in bothe his Armes tok.

With that this worthi wif awok,

Which thurgh tendresce of wommanhiede

Hire vois hath lost for pure drede,

That o word speke sche ne dar:

And ek he bad hir to be war,

For if sche made noise or cry,

He seide, his swerd lay faste by 4980

To slen hire and hire folk aboute.

And thus he broghte hire herte in doute,

That lich a Lomb whanne it is sesed

In wolves mouth, so was desesed

Lucrece, which he naked fond:

Wherof sche swounede in his hond,

And, as who seith, lay ded oppressed.

And he, which al him hadde adresced

To lust, tok thanne what him liste,

And goth his wey, that non it wiste, 4990

Into his oghne chambre ayein,

And clepede up his chamberlein,

[Pg 374]

And made him redi forto ryde.

And thus this lecherouse pride

To horse lepte and forth he rod;

And sche, which in hire bed abod,

Whan that sche wiste he was agon,

Sche clepede after liht anon

And up aros long er the day,

And caste awey hire freissh aray, 5000

As sche which hath the world forsake,

And tok upon the clothes blake:(5200*)

P. iii. 260

And evere upon continuinge,

Riht as men sen a welle springe,

With yhen fulle of wofull teres,

Hire her hangende aboute hire Eres,

Sche wepte, and noman wiste why.

Bot yit among full pitously

Sche preide that thei nolden drecche

Hire housebonde forto fecche 5010

Forth with hire fader ek also.

Thus be thei comen bothe tuo,

And Brutus cam with Collatin,

Which to Lucrece was cousin,

And in thei wenten alle thre

To chambre, wher thei myhten se

The wofulleste upon this Molde,

Which wepte as sche to water scholde.

The chambre Dore anon was stoke,

Er thei have oght unto hire spoke; 5020

Thei sihe hire clothes al desguised,

And hou sche hath hirself despised,

Hire her hangende unkemd aboute,

Bot natheles sche gan to loute

And knele unto hire housebonde;

And he, which fain wolde understonde

The cause why sche ferde so,

With softe wordes axeth tho,

‘What mai you be, mi goode swete?’

And sche, which thoghte hirself unmete 5030

And the lest worth of wommen alle,

Hire wofull chiere let doun falle

[Pg 375]

P. iii. 261

For schame and couthe unnethes loke.

And thei therof good hiede toke,

And preiden hire in alle weie

That sche ne spare forto seie

Unto hir frendes what hire eileth,

Why sche so sore hirself beweileth,

And what the sothe wolde mene.

And sche, which hath hire sorwes grene, 5040

Hire wo to telle thanne assaieth,

Bot tendre schame hire word delaieth,

That sondri times as sche minte1413

To speke, upon the point sche stinte.

And thei hire bidden evere in on

To telle forth, and therupon,

Whan that sche sih sche moste nede,

Hire tale betwen schame and drede

Sche tolde, noght withoute peine.

And he, which wolde hire wo restreigne, 5050

Hire housebonde, a sory man,

Conforteth hire al that he can,(5250*)

And swor, and ek hire fader bothe,

That thei with hire be noght wrothe

Of that is don ayein hire wille;

And preiden hire to be stille,

For thei to hire have al foryive.

But sche, which thoghte noght to live,

Of hem wol no foryivenesse,

And seide, of thilke wickednesse 5060

Which was unto hire bodi wroght,

Al were it so sche myhte it noght,

P. iii. 262

Nevere afterward the world ne schal

Reproeven hire; and forth withal,

Er eny man therof be war,

A naked swerd, the which sche bar

Withinne hire Mantel priveli,

Betwen hire hondes sodeinly

Sche tok, and thurgh hire herte it throng,

And fell to grounde, and evere among, 5070

Whan that sche fell, so as sche myhte,

[Pg 376]

Hire clothes with hire hand sche rihte,

That noman dounward fro the kne

Scholde eny thing of hire se:

Thus lay this wif honestely,

Althogh she deide wofully.

Tho was no sorwe forto seke:

Hire housebonde, hire fader eke

Aswoune upon the bodi felle;

Ther mai no mannes tunge telle 5080

In which anguisshe that thei were.

Bot Brutus, which was with hem there,

Toward himself his herte kepte,

And to Lucrece anon he lepte,

The blodi swerd and pulleth oute,

And swor the goddes al aboute

That he therof schal do vengance.

And sche tho made a contienance,

Hire dedlich yhe and ate laste

In thonkinge as it were up caste, 5090

And so behield him in the wise,

Whil sche to loke mai suffise.

P. iii. 263

And Brutus with a manlich herte

Hire housebonde hath mad up sterte

Forth with hire fader ek also

In alle haste, and seide hem tho

That thei anon withoute lette

A Beere for the body fette;

Lucrece and therupon bledende

He leide, and so forth out criende 5100

He goth into the Market place1414

Of Rome: and in a litel space(5300*)

Thurgh cry the cite was assembled,

And every mannes herte is trembled,1415

Whan thei the sothe herde of the cas.

And therupon the conseil was

Take of the grete and of the smale,

And Brutus tolde hem al the tale;

And thus cam into remembrance

[Pg 377]

Of Senne the continuance, 5110

Which Arrons hadde do tofore,

And ek, long time er he was bore,

Of that his fadre hadde do1416

The wrong cam into place tho;

So that the comun clamour tolde

The newe schame of Sennes olde.

And al the toun began to crie,

‘Awey, awey the tirannie

Of lecherie and covoitise!’

And ate laste in such a wise 5120

The fader in the same while

Forth with his Sone thei exile,

P. iii. 264

And taken betre governance.

Bot yit an other remembrance

That rihtwisnesse and lecherie

Acorden noght in compaignie

With him that hath the lawe on honde,

That mai a man wel understonde,

As be a tale thou shalt wite,

Of olde ensample as it is write.1417 5130

[Tale of Virginia.]

At Rome whan that Apius,

Hic ponit exemplum super eodem,1418 qualiter Liuius Virginius dux excercitus Romanorum vnicam filiam pulcherimam habens cum quodam nobili viro nomine Ilicio, vt ipsam in vxorem duceret, finaliter concordauit. Set interim Apius Claudius tunc1419 Imperator virginis formositatem, vt eam violaret, concupiscens, occasiones quibus matrimonium impedire, ipsamque ad sui vsum apprehendere posset, subdola conspiracione fieri coniectauit. Et cum propositum sui desiderii productis falsis testibus in iudicio Imperator habere debuisset, pater tunc ibidem presens extracto gladio filie sue pectus mortali vulnere per medium transfodit, dicens: ‘Malo michi de filia mea virginem habere mortuam, quam in sui scandalum meretricem reseruare viuentem.’

Whos other name is Claudius,

Was governour of the cite,

Ther fell a wonder thing to se

Touchende a gentil Maide, as thus,1420

Whom Livius Virginius

Begeten hadde upon his wif:

Men seiden that so fair a lif

As sche was noght in al the toun.

This fame, which goth up and doun, 5140

To Claudius cam in his Ere,

Wherof his thoght anon was there,

Which al his herte hath set afyre,

That he began the flour desire

Which longeth unto maydenhede,

[Pg 378]

And sende, if that he myhte spede

The blinde lustes of his wille.

Bot that thing mai he noght fulfille,

For sche stod upon Mariage;

A worthi kniht of gret lignage, 5150

Ilicius which thanne hihte,

Acorded in hire fader sihte(5350*)

P. iii. 265

Was, that he scholde his douhter wedde.

Bot er the cause fully spedde,

Hire fader, which in Romanie

The ledinge of chivalerie

In governance hath undertake,

Upon a werre which was take

Goth out with al the strengthe he hadde

Of men of Armes whiche he ladde: 5160

So was the mariage left,1421

And stod upon acord til eft.

The king, which herde telle of this,

Hou that this Maide ordeigned is

To Mariage, thoghte an other.

And hadde thilke time a brother,

Which Marchus Claudius was hote,

And was a man of such riote

Riht as the king himselve was:

Thei tuo togedre upon this cas 5170

In conseil founden out this weie,1422

That Marchus Claudius schal seie

Hou sche be weie of covenant

To his service appourtenant

Was hol, and to non other man;

And therupon he seith he can

In every point witnesse take,

So that sche schal it noght forsake.

Whan that thei hadden schape so,

After the lawe which was tho, 5180

Whil that hir fader was absent,

Sche was somouned and assent1423

P. iii. 266

To come in presence of the king

[Pg 379]

And stonde in ansuere of this thing.1424

Hire frendes wisten alle wel

That it was falshed everydel,

And comen to the king and seiden,

Upon the comun lawe and preiden,

So as this noble worthi knyht

Hir fader for the comun riht 5190

In thilke time, as was befalle,

Lai for the profit of hem alle

Upon the wylde feldes armed,

That he ne scholde noght ben harmed

Ne schamed, whil that he were oute;

And thus thei preiden al aboute.

For al the clamour that he herde,

The king upon his lust ansuerde,

And yaf hem only daies tuo

Of respit; for he wende tho, 5200

That in so schorte a time appiere1425

Hire fader mihte in no manere.(5400*)

Bot as therof he was deceived;

For Livius hadde al conceived

The pourpos of the king tofore,

So that to Rome ayein therfore1426

In alle haste he cam ridende,

And lefte upon the field liggende

His host, til that he come ayein.

And thus this worthi capitein 5210

Appiereth redi at his day,

Wher al that evere reson may

P. iii. 267

Be lawe in audience he doth,

So that his dowhter upon soth

Of that Marchus hire hadde accused

He hath tofore the court excused.

The king, which sih his pourpos faile,

And that no sleihte mihte availe,

Encombred of his lustes blinde

The lawe torneth out of kinde,1427 5220

[Pg 380]

And half in wraththe as thogh it were,

In presence of hem alle there

Deceived of concupiscence

Yaf for his brother the sentence,

And bad him that he scholde sese

This Maide and make him wel at ese;

Bot al withinne his oghne entente

He wiste hou that the cause wente,

Of that his brother hath the wyte

He was himselven forto wyte. 5230

Bot thus this maiden hadde wrong,

Which was upon the king along,

Bot ayein him was non Appel,

And that the fader wiste wel:

Wherof upon the tirannie,

That for the lust of Lecherie

His douhter scholde be deceived,

And that Ilicius was weyved

Untrewly fro the Mariage,1428

Riht as a Leon in his rage, 5240

Which of no drede set acompte

And not what pite scholde amounte,

P. iii. 268

A naked swerd he pulleth oute,

The which amonges al the route

He threste thurgh his dowhter side,

And al alowd this word he cride:

‘Lo, take hire ther, thou wrongfull king,1429

For me is levere upon this thing

To be the fader of a Maide,

Thogh sche be ded, than if men saide 5250

That in hir lif sche were schamed1430

And I therof were evele named.’(5450*)

Tho bad the king men scholde areste

His bodi, bot of thilke heste,

Lich to the chaced wylde bor,

The houndes whan he fieleth sor,

Tothroweth and goth forth his weie,

In such a wise forto seie

[Pg 381]

This worthi kniht with swerd on honde

His weie made, and thei him wonde, 5260

That non of hem his strokes kepte;

And thus upon his hors he lepte,

And with his swerd droppende of blod,1431

The which withinne his douhter stod,

He cam ther as the pouer was

Of Rome, and tolde hem al the cas,

And seide hem that thei myhten liere1432

Upon the wrong of his matiere,1433

That betre it were to redresce

At hom the grete unrihtwisnesse, 5270

Than forto werre in strange place

And lese at hom here oghne grace.

P. iii. 269

For thus stant every mannes lif

In jeupartie for his wif

Or for his dowhter, if thei be1434

Passende an other of beaute.

Of this merveile which thei sihe

So apparant tofore here yhe,

Of that the king him hath misbore,1435

Here othes thei have alle swore 5280

That thei wol stonde be the riht.

And thus of on acord upriht

To Rome at ones hom ayein

Thei torne, and schortly forto sein,

This tirannye cam to mouthe,

And every man seith what he couthe,

So that the prive tricherie,

Which set was upon lecherie,

Cam openly to mannes Ere;

And that broghte in the comun feere, 5290

That every man the peril dradde

Of him that so hem overladde.

Forthi, er that it worse falle,1436

Thurgh comun conseil of hem alle

[Pg 382]

Thei have here wrongfull king deposed,

And hem in whom it was supposed

The conseil stod of his ledinge1437

Be lawe unto the dom thei bringe,

Wher thei receiven the penance

That longeth to such governance. 5300

And thus thunchaste was chastised,

Wherof thei myhte ben avised(5500*)

P. iii. 270

That scholden afterward governe,

And be this evidence lerne,

Hou it is good a king eschuie

The lust of vice and vertu suie.

[Tobias and Sara.]

To make an ende in this partie,

Which toucheth to the Policie

Hic inter alia castitatis regimen concernencia loquitur quomodo Matrimonium, cuius status Sacramentum, quasi continenciam equiperans, eciam honeste delectacionis regimine moderari debet. Et narrat in exemplum, qualiter pro eo quod illi vii.^tem viri, qui Sarre Raguelis filie magis propter concupiscenciam quam propter matrimonium voluptuose nupserunt, vnus post alium omnes prima nocte a demone Asmodeo singillatim iugulati interierunt.

Of Chastite in special,

As for conclusion final 5310

That every lust is to eschue

Be gret ensample I mai argue:

Hou in Rages a toun of Mede

Ther was a Mayde, and as I rede,

Sarra sche hihte, and Raguel

Hir fader was; and so befell,

Of bodi bothe and of visage

Was non so fair of the lignage,

To seche among hem alle, as sche;

Wherof the riche of the cite, 5320

Of lusti folk that couden love,

Assoted were upon hire love,

And asken hire forto wedde.

On was which ate laste spedde,

Bot that was more for likinge,

To have his lust, than for weddinge,

As he withinne his herte caste,

Which him repenteth ate laste.

For so it fell the ferste nyht,

That whanne he was to bedde dyht, 5330

As he which nothing god besecheth

Bot al only hise lustes secheth,

[Pg 383]

P. iii. 271

Abedde er he was fully warm

And wolde have take hire in his Arm,

Asmod, which was a fend of helle,

And serveth, as the bokes telle,1438

To tempte a man of such a wise,1439

Was redy there, and thilke emprise,

Which he hath set upon delit,

He vengeth thanne in such a plit, 5340

That he his necke hath writhe atuo.1440

This yonge wif was sory tho,

Which wiste nothing what it mente;

And natheles yit thus it wente

Noght only of this ferste man,1441

Bot after, riht as he began,

Sexe othre of hire housebondes

Asmod hath take into hise bondes,1442

So that thei alle abedde deiden,

Whan thei her hand toward hir leiden, 5350

Noght for the lawe of Mariage,

Bot for that ilke fyri rage(5550*)

In which that thei the lawe excede:

For who that wolde taken hiede

What after fell in this matiere,

Ther mihte he wel the sothe hiere.

Whan sche was wedded to Thobie,

And Raphael in compainie

Hath tawht him hou to ben honeste,

Asmod wan noght at thilke feste, 5360

And yit Thobie his wille hadde;

For he his lust so goodly ladde,

P. iii. 272

That bothe lawe and kinde is served,

Wherof he hath himself preserved,

That he fell noght in the sentence.

O which an open evidence1443

Of this ensample a man mai se,

That whan likinge in the degre

[Pg 384]

[Chastity.]

Of Mariage mai forsueie,

Wel oghte him thanne in other weie 5370

Of lust to be the betre avised.

For god the lawes hath assissed

Als wel to reson as to kinde,

Bot he the bestes wolde binde

Only to lawes of nature,

Bot to the mannes creature

God yaf him reson forth withal,

Wherof that he nature schal

Upon the causes modefie,1444

Nota.1445

That he schal do no lecherie, 5380

And yit he schal hise lustes have.

So ben the lawes bothe save

And every thing put out of sclandre;1446

As whilom to king Alisandre

The wise Philosophre tawhte,

Whan he his ferste lore cawhte,

Noght only upon chastete,

Bot upon alle honestete;1447

Wherof a king himself mai taste,

Hou trewe, hou large, hou joust, hou chaste 5390

Him oghte of reson forto be,

Forth with the vertu of Pite,1448

P. iii. 273

Thurgh which he mai gret thonk deserve

Toward his godd, that he preserve

Him and his poeple in alle welthe

Of pes, richesse, honour and helthe

Hier in this world and elles eke.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, as we tofore spieke

In schrifte, so as thou me seidest,

And for thin ese, as thou me preidest, 5400

Thi love throghes forto lisse,

That I thee wolde telle and wisse(5600*)

The forme of Aristotles lore,

I have it seid, and somdiel more

Of othre ensamples, to assaie

If I thi peines myhte allaie

[Pg 385]

Thurgh eny thing that I can seie.1449

Amans.

Do wey, mi fader, I you preie:

Of that ye have unto me told

I thonke you a thousendfold. 5410

The tales sounen in myn Ere,1450

Bot yit myn herte is elleswhere,

I mai miselve noght restreigne,

That I nam evere in loves peine:

Such lore couthe I nevere gete,

Which myhte make me foryete

O point, bot if so were I slepte,1451

That I my tydes ay ne kepte

To thenke of love and of his lawe;

That herte can I noght withdrawe. 5420

Forthi, my goode fader diere,

Lef al and speke of my matiere1452

P. iii. 274

Touchende of love, as we begonne:

If that ther be oght overronne

Or oght foryete or left behinde

Which falleth unto loves kinde,1453

Wherof it nedeth to be schrive,

Nou axeth, so that whil I live

I myhte amende that is mys.

Confessor.

Mi goode diere Sone, yis. 5430

Thi schrifte forto make plein,

Ther is yit more forto sein

Of love which is unavised.

Bot for thou schalt be wel avised

Unto thi schrifte as it belongeth,

A point which upon love hongeth

And is the laste of alle tho,

I wol thee telle, and thanne ho.

Explicit Liber Septimus.

FOOTNOTES:

927 13 þi time AdBTΔ, K (þe tymes lasse C)

928 15 drowe AM

929 25 matier AdBT

930 28 Declared AdBT

931 29 thre] þe H₁, AdBT, W

932 56 And þat AM ... B₂

933 Latin Verses ii. 2 capit AdBT, W

934 87 is thilke] þis ilke H₁ ... B₂

935 89 S resumes

936 92 thre] þe AMH₁XRLB₂

937 108 The god] And he B The T He Ad

938 109 That] And AdBT

939 119 By chief AM ... C, W þe cheef L

940 161 experience M ... B₂, Δ

941 177 margin vocat A ... B₂ (except E)

942 190 The F

943 207 margin interim om. BΔ

944 236 ther ne] þerþe (the erthe &c.) ne AMH₁XGEL þerþe (om. ne) C erþe ne R line om. W

945 257 lyfliche AM liueliche W lif iche H₁ fissche Δ

946 262 Noman S, F

947 269 the om. AM

948 275 And B

949 298 is vpdrawe (vp drawe) C, AdBT, W

950 300 vpon alofte AM vp alofte T, Δ

951 303 befalle H₁EC, SAdB, W

952 319 margin hic om. A ... B₂, B, W (Nota hic om. Δ)

953 323 fyry drake E, BT

954 330 exaltaciouns AM

955 336 falle doun to gr.] doun (downe) to þe gr. (om. falle) AM ... B₂ falle doun to þe grounde J, T, W (thre grounde T)

956 339 exaltacioun AMH₁

957 361 Daily H₁ Baaly CL

958 365 forme AdBT

959 368 hou it om. Ad T it B

960 374 sond(ė) AMXGERCB₂

961 393 The CL Be AdT

962 429 fyr] ferst B firþ Ad

963 438 be hote AJMH₁XL, AdTΔ, K

964 445 chele] cold(e) AM ... B₂

965 449 margin est om. B

966 451 þe cold AdBT

966m 451 margin domus J, SB, F domus est ACB₂ &c.

967 456 his AdBT hyȝe X

968 464 margin cordi om. AM ... B₂

969 469 chief om. H₁ ... B₂ (is chief om. R)

970 478 increacioun AM ... B₂, W

971 480 Ordeineþ AH₁ ... B₂ Ordeyne M

972 483 forto] to AM

973 492 hath] þat AM ... B₂

974 508 haþ AMH₁, AdBTΔ, WK

975 510 fleissh(e) may H₁XRCLB₂ fleissh may him E

976 521 be told JGC, B betold (bitold) A, S, F

977 525 priuely AJM pleinly B₂

978 528 bookes B

979 541 Middelerþe (middelerþe) J, S, F myddel erþe AC, B

980 546 Cam AJ, F Cham C, SB

981 552 himselue AJM

982 575 margin Aufrica AJC, F Affrica SB

983 578 Vnto S ... Δ

984 584 Which AJC, F Whiche SB

985 597 haleth] lakkeþ AdBTΛ

986 620 Which AJ, S, F Whiche B

987 621 good JC, SB goode A, F

988 628 Alle oþre AJ, S, F Alle (Al) oþer EC, B

989 Latin Verses iv. 4 quod H₁ ... B₂, B quis T

990 672 knowechinge F

991 684 tho] þe JXGL, AdBTΔ, K (þo S)

992 685 Paragr. in MSS at 686

993 694 Bot þorizonte FWK Be (By) þorizonte SAdBTΔΛ But (Bot) zorizonte AMYXGERCB₂ Bot þorughout (þurgh out &c.) JH₁L

994 717 it tawhte (taughte) A ... B₂

995 724 schal beknowe SΔ, FK

996 736 fulwonne FK rest ful wonne

997 769 and om. AMH₁XGR

998 798 wantounesse JC, B, F wantonnesse S wantonesse T

999 911 that] þe AMH₁G, AdBT, W

1000 933 vpon] whan AM

1001 935 f. margin De septima—dictus est om. B

1002 936 þe AM ... B₂, AdΔ

1003 956 bryht (bright) S ... Δ

1004 962 margin assequitur H₁E ... B₂ asseruntur X

1005 978 as it] and it E, AdBT it XL

1006 983 margin adesse H₁XGECR, SBΔ, W (Lat. om. JM, AdT)

1007 979-982 Four lines om. B

1008 984 þe beste AM ... B₂ his brest W

1009 1007 out of AdBT and of W

1010 1017 is om. AdBT

1011 1019 hous of AM

1012 1027 tuo] moo (mo) AM ... B₂

1013 1033 of o kynde H₁ERCB₂ of kynde XL

1014 1044 Hise F

1015 1058 be bore] bifore (before) AdBT

1016 1079 Monthe om. B

1017 1095 cold om. AdBT

1018 1100 Augst applied T, F August applied A ... B₂ (except E). SAdΔ, WK August plyed E, B

1019 1116 this] þe AMH₁XGRLB₂

1020 1148 To ... bore AMX ... L To ... lore B₂

1021 1163 he] it A ... B₂

1022 1181 f. formes ... enformes AdBT

1023 1223 unto] and to B

1024 1229 his signe AdBT

1025 1260 þe point AM ... B₂

1026 1261 Constantyn noble þe cite H₁XERCL Constantyne þe noble cite B₂

1027 1266 Aries haþ H₁ ... B₂

1028 1280 hihe] sihe (seye) BT

1029 1287 moist AJ, S, F moiste B

1030 1321 Is hette AM it hatteth Δ monþes BT mannes W

1031 1346 margin Berillis A ... B₂, W

1032 1361 as þe scole (om. seith) AMH₁XRLB₂ after þis scole E (as seiþ þe scole JGC)

1033 1372 margin Honochinus om. AM

1034 1383 grene] grete B, W

1035 1393 ellefþe JC, S, F elleþe A elleueþe B

1036 1400 him calleþ R, AdBT

1037 1404 margin Topaxion H₁ ... B₂

1038 1406 Topaxion (topaxione) H₁ ... CB₂ to paxione L

1039 1412 margin Astrologia (astrologia) A ... B₂, BΔ, H₃

1040 1413 Astrologie (astrologie) MH₁E, BΔ, H₃

1041 1445 which AJ, S, F whiche B

1042 1464 palmestrie H₁ ... B₂

1043 1473 Habraham JX, F rest Abraham

1044 1477 this] his AdBT

1045 1490 aren] been (ben) A ... B₂, W

1046 1493 such a wise MH₁CL, T, H₃

1047 Latin Verses v. 1 sermones H₁ ... B₂, B

1048 4 pulcra AdBT

1049 1530 ferste A, S, F ferst (first) JC, B

1050 1545 in gras H₁CLB₂, W

1051 1574 and fo A ... B₂, AdT

1052 1577 þe worldes A ... B₂, BΔ

1053 1588 þis lore A ... B₂

1054 1589 his] þe AdBT

1055 1596 Tak (Taak) AC, SB Take J, F

1056 1597 and of AMR

1057 1618 he] men A me M

1058 1619 iugge AdBT

1059 1640 trewman AC, S, F trewe man B

1060 Latin Verses vi. 4 Hec FKH₃Magd Ex A ... B₂, S ... ΔΛ, W regit BTΛ gerit Ad

1061 1651 ferst AJ, S, F ferste (firste) C, B

1062 1666 that om. AM ... B₂

1063 1670 Belongeþ to Icon. AM ... B₂

1064 1671 honeste M ... B₂ (except C), SΔ, WH₃

1065 1681 hih] his B

1066 1688 of] al AdBT

1067 1690 eek C, B eke (eeke) A, F

1068 1695 hou om. AM

1069 1698 þe staat (state) AMB₂, W þe estate R

1070 1711 behoveth] bilongeþ X, AdBT

1071 1718 margin existat AM ... B₂

1072 1718 are] been (ben) A ... B₂

1073 1744 wolde B

1074 1749 be wel A ... B₂ (except H₁ welbe)

1075 1751 margin Nota—designantur om. R, B, H₃

1076 1769 his worldes H₁ ... B₂

1077 1770 goode om. AM

1078 1789 as] and A ... B₂

1079 1791 And for he AM ... B₂

1080 1792 wisemen S, F wise men AJC, B

1081 1793 on] in AM ... C of L

1082 1795 margin asserit B

1083 1797 which A, F whiche B

1084 1800 Arpaphes AMH₁XCLB₂ Araphes R

1085 1805 he triste] þat trist(e) AM he trusteth Δ

1086 1815 anssuere F

1087 1836 of lord] a lord E, AdBT, W

1088 1842 þe S, FW a AC, B

1089 1882 I sih AdBT

1090 1883 And for AM

1091 1884 of Besaxis H₁XRCB₂ and Besaxis L

1092 1902 þe womman J, BT

1093 1932 Of] And M, AdBT

1094 1942 The A ... B₂

1095 1978 the om. J, AdBT

1096 1980 therupon] vpon AM

1097 Latin Verses viii. 2 Eius FKH₃Magd rest Cuius

1098 1992 margin subditi omni] sub dicionum (subdicionum) A ... B₂, B

1099 2015 bitwene (betwen) more AM ... B₂, Δ, WH₃

1100 2021 and pile] no pile AM

1101 2043 Paragr. here J, SB, F &c.

1102 2067 margin reuelare AM om. C

1103 2077 do] to H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

1104 2078 lawe AM ... B₂, AdBT

1105 2093 list (luste) to H₁EB₂, AdBT

1106 2106 vnto H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

1107 2122 king om. AM

1108 2128 which] þat AM ... B₂

1109 2140 Bilongeþ AdBT

1110 2150 margin Nota—Aristotilem om. BΔ secundum Aristotilem om. S

1111 2155 margin Seneca] Salomon B

1112 2158 been (ben) A ... B₂

1113 2198 not A, F noght S nought J, B

1114 2199 margin Tercio contra populum om. B, W

1115 2219 ff. margin Hic contra—deberes] Hic loquitur super eodem, et narrat quod, cum Diogenes et Arisippus philosophi a scolis Athenarum ad Cartaginem, vnde orti fuerant, reuertissent, Arisippus curie principis sui familiaris adhesit, Diogenes vero in quodam mansiunculo suo studio vacans permansit. Et contigit quod, cum ipse quodam die ad finem orti (ortus S) sui super ripam herbas quas elegerat (eligerat S) ad olera lauasset, superuenit ex casu Arisippus, dixitque ei, ‘O Diogenes, certe si Principi tuo placere scires, tu ad olera tua lauanda non indigeres.’ Cui ille respondit, ‘O Arisippe, certe si tu olera tua lauare scires, te in blandiciis et adulacionibus principi tuo seruire non oporteret.’ SBΔΛ (Lat. om. AdT)

1116 2243 and takþ B

1117 2251 and] and wiþ AM, Δ

1118 2262 þastat B

1119 2282 satte S, F sate W sat J, AdBT sitte (sit) AMH₁XGC sette (set) ERLB₂, Δ, H₃

1120 2294 so] þo GLB₂, AdBT, W

1121 2318 sein B sayne W

1122 2329 Bot] And AdBTΛ

1123 2330 Bot wher] And wher AM ... B₂ Wher now AdBTΛ

1124 2329*-2340* only in AdBTΛ (not SΔ)

1125 2332* seid T sayd B

1126 2331 euery AdBT

1127 2335 him wolde S ... Δ, W

1128 2337 as om. AM ... B₂ (except C)

1129 2352 is yit] it is C, AdBT

1130 2357 ff. margin Hic narrat—aduersabitur] Hic eciam contra vicium adulacionis ponit exemplum: et narrat quod, cum nuper Romanorum imperator contra suos hostes victoriam optinuisset, et cum palma triumphi (triumphe S) in vrbem redire debuisset, ne ipsum inanis glorie altitudo superextolleret, licitum fuit pro illo die quod vnusquisque peiora que sue condicionis agnosceret in aures suas apercius exclamaret, vt sic gaudium cum dolore compesceret, et adulantum voces, sique fuerant, pro minimo computaret. SBΔΛ (Lat. om. AdT)

1131 2363 eny om. AM

1132 2376 of loond A

1133 2377 margin fortunata A ... B₂

1134 2378 margin fuerit] fuit B₂ sint H₁ ... L

1135 2379 margin forte om. AM tokne S ... Δ

1136 2384 word(e) AMXLB₂

1137 2409 that] his B

1138 2412 it om. J, AdBT

1139 2414 ff. margin Hic eciam—reprimeret] Hic ponit exemplum super eodem; et narrat quod eodem die quo imperator intronizatus in palacio suo regio ad conuiuium in maiori leticia sedisset, ministri sui sculptores coram ipso procederent alta voce dicentes, ‘O imperator, die nobis cuius forme et vbi tumbam sculpture tue faciemus,’ vt sic morte remorsus huius vite blandicias obtemperaret, SBΔΛ but procederant SBΛ (Lat. om. AdT)

1140 2424 Disour] Gestour AM ... B₂

1141 2428 be om. AM

1142 2434 thing] king B₂, AdBT

1143 2444 Tho took AdB Sto cok T

1144 2460 be om. AM

1145 2461 as] and A

1146 2464 do worschipe] worschiped AdBT

1147 2469 boþe (both) AM ... B₂, AdBΔ, W

1148 2486 if om. AM, Δ

1149 2530 Irahel (Irael) J, S, FK rest Israel

1150 2536 margin adulatis A ... B₂

1151 2540 Irahel (Irael) AJ, S, FK rest Israel

1152 2546 fro BT

1153 2560 trew S, F trewe AC, B

1154 2562 I schal AM

1155 2594 Ther is on] is þer non B is þer on T

1156 2598 liked S ... Δ, W

1157 2609 þer S ... Δ

1158 2619 him AMX ... B₂, K

1159 2622 his] þe H₁, S ... Δ

1160 2633 this] þi S ... Δ

1161 2637 miht (might) JC, B mihte A, S, F

1162 2641 S has lost two leaves (ll. 2641-3004)

1163 2657 Irahel (Irael) J, FK rest Israel

1164 2689 flatering AdBT

1165 2691 euermore JM, B forthermore W

1166 2698 margin regiminis] Regis AM, BT, FW legis H₁ ... B₂ siue regis Δ (Lat. om. J, Ad, K)

1167 2710 lorde AH₁ lordeþ M

1168 2747 do] to AM

1169 2750 disputacioun AM ... B₂

1170 2762 menable AXG, FW moeuable (moueable &c.) H₁E, AdBT, K meuable (?) JMRCLB₂, Δ

1171 2775 Enclynd (Enclined) H₁ ... B₂, W

1172 2792 in to his AM ... B₂

1173 2794 putte AC, B put F

1174 2806 whiche AJ, B which C, F

1175 2814 non] anon MCB₂ (p. m.) gon E

1176 2840 good AdBT

1177 2850 f.

That euery man be wepenles

That come in to &c. H₁ ... B₂

1178 2857 lest] heer (here) AM ... B₂

1179 2858 Thus AM

1180 2863 igerd (I gerde &c.) AM ... B₂

1181 2887 he om. B

1182 (2889-2916 om. R)

1183 2900 vpon H₁ ... B₂

1184 2920 margin qui om. BT

1185 2926 margin subditos suos om. A ... B₂

1186 2938 margin delegatur BT

1187 2951 and om. A (p. m.)

1188 2967 no man JC, B noman A, F

1189 2977 as] and AdBT

1190 2989 ȝe wol AdBT I wold Δ

1191 2993 swere H₁ ... B₂, Ad, WK

1192 3000 lest] heer (here) AM ... B₂

1193 3003 schop (schoop) AJC, B schope F

1194 3005 S resumes

1195 3020 which AC, S, F whiche B

1196 3040 to om. A ... CB₂

1197 3060 hadde AdBT

1198 3063 such JC, SB suche A, F

1199 3086 he lad AM, Δ he bad B₂

1200 3088 To do H₁ ... B₂

1201 Latin Verses x. 2 vbi H₁ ... B₂

1202 3110 margin graciosius H₁ ... B₂, W

1203 3122 margin Nota F om. AC, B

1204 3135 Philosophre] holy book BTΛ

1205 3149*-3180* Only in BTΛ (Ad defective). Text follows B

1206 3150* scholde] þat scholde T

1207 3163* þis tale T

1208 3137-3162 Placed after 3360* in SΔ

1209 3142 ff. margin Troianus—proponebat om. BT

1210 3143 This A, F Thus B

1211 3148 conseilleir F

1212 3159 pitous (petous) JH₁LB₂, Δ, W piteous R piteuous X

1213 3207*-3360* Only in SAdBTΔΛ (Ad defective to l. 3269*). Text follows S

1214 3222* margin pietatem om. B

1215 3223* marg. excerciam S

1216 3228* marg. pro tempore om. BT

1217 3231* marg. asinum sibi restitui BTΛ

1218 3234* marg. nocumentum S nocumenta B

1219 3244* marg. quadam valle BT

1220 3251* margin after decreuit B adds et cum omni sui cordis intimo deo gracias egit

1221 3212* betwene S

1222 3220* art] arþ S

1223 3232* I om. BT

1224 3242* And T

1225 3256* Boþoghte S

1226 3265* vnneþes T

1227 3278* On þis on þat AdBTΛ

1228 3283* rod] goþ T

1229 3292* Iuerie AdT Iewerie B Iurie S

1230 3305* dom (doom) AdBT dome S

1231 3311* made SAdBΔΛ mad T

1232 3312* whan B

1233 3327* hol BT hole SAd

1234 3339* lond AdBT londe S

1235 3342* discretely S

1236 3348* many wise AdB

1237 After 3360* ins. 3137-3162 SΔ rest proceed with 3163 ff.

1238 3176 margin se] seipsum BT, H₃ eligere om. BT

1239 3174 if it so AM

1240 3186 his om. AM an W

1241 3198 thoghte to relieve] of his byleeue AM

1242 3218 in Ermonie AM

1243 3225 on his heed B

1244 3233 margin restuit F

1245 3235 and ful AM ... B₂

1246 3244 was] is ȝit S ... Δ

1247 3271 margin in om. H₁ ... B₂, BTΔ

1248 3274 margin in exemplum S ... Δ

1249 3279 margin in om. BT

1250 3270 with] þe XGERL by H₁ no B₂

1251 3271 pitous (petows) MH₁XLB₂, Δ, WH₃ piteuous AdT

1252 3276 al is SAdBT is Δ

1253 3279 of his ire Δ in his A in hie M

1254 3298 margin tiranni om. A ... B₂

1255 3298 To whom AM ... B₂, Ad Inne whom W hom Δ

1256 3326 this caste] it cast B is cast Ad, H₃ þis made A ... B₂

1257 3330 vnto AdBT to Δ

1258 3332 which] þat AM ... B₂

1259 3338 couenable AM ... R coueable L couable B₂ (C defect.)

1260 3340 ago (a go) H₁E, BΔ, WH₃

1261 3342 of] at A ... B₂ om. W

1262 3362 margin Iupiter om. BT

1263 3387 nature þis AdBT natures þus AM ... B₂

1264 3397 i tamed AM ... B₂

1265 3412 areste] haue reste AM

1266 3420 margin precipue om. A ... B₂

1267 3436 margin offerre A ... B₂ (offerri G, W)

1268 3423 hapned XERCB₂ papned L

1269 3429 to mannes b. AM ... B₂

1270 3432 as he by sente A as by sente M alle by dissent W

1271 3440 Til god S ... Δ

1272 3448 His AM

1273 3454 dydinge AM

1274 3464 hir(e) power H₁, BTΔ, W ouerpasse AM

1275 3465 With] By AM ... B₂

1276 3476 tobrieken S, F tobreken (to breken) AJC, B

1277 3483 of om. AM

1278 3484 no] not (noght) AM ... B₂ (except E)

1279 3505 f. him ... him AdBT, W

1280 3510 him om. AM ... B₂, Δ

1281 3523 Why] Wiþ AdBT

1282 3530 Knighthode R, B, W

1283 3551 þogh it be lich to a fable A þoght it be lich a fable M

1284 3556 And wonder dredful noise it made AdBT

1285 3574 hield (heeld) A, S, F heelde (helde) C, B helden J

1286 3575 causa F

1287 3589 and reste AM ... B₂

1288 3592 wher of þat his knighthede H₁ ... B₂ wher of his knyhthede AM, AdΔ, H₃ (knythlihiede F)

1289 3607 hardinesse R, AdBTΔ, W

1290 3615 forþere (forþre, forþer) AM ... B₂ (forþe X)

1291 3628 Irahel (Irael) J, S, F rest Israel

1292 3639 hem L, S ... Δ he A ... CB₂, Λ, FWKMagd

1293 3641 thre] these W

1294 3652 delit(e) H₁ ... B₂, W

1295 3672 out om. AdBT

1296 3677 my lust AM

1297 3683 nomo JC, S, F no mo(o) A, B

1298 3688 which] þat AM ... B₂

1299 3689 scholde AdBT

1300 3692 his] þis AM ... B₂, AdBTΔ, Magd

1301 3701 he ferde] aferde AM

1302 3704 slep] sweuen(e) AM ... L (slep G)

1303 3716 his host E, B, Magd

1304 3727 despeir AJMH₁RLB₂, AdBTΔ, W

1305 3728 schullen B

1306 3748 his] þis H₁G, BΔ

1307 3752 per] þe AdBT þair L

1308 3763 forto] þo to AM B₂ to W

1309 3773 hole J, S, F holly AC, B

1310 3797 what þat AM ... B₂

1311 3800 in] and AM ... RLB₂

1312 3819 myht (might) AC, B myhte (mihte) J, S, F

1313 3854 flen (fle) SΔ

1314 3861 non F

1315 3902 I my regne] I may regne C, W I regne AdT in my regne H₁E in me regne XRLB₂

1316 3903 thi] þe AMC

1317 3984 wel þanne AMH₁, AdΔ wel than al W

1318 3989 al of þis BT of al þis Ad al this W

1319 3990 What tyme B

1320 4004 that] þe AdBT

1321 4020 thanne] þat A ... B₂

1322 4031 þe parlement AM

1323 4037 which þat H₁ ... B₂, BT, W þat Ad

1324 4044 to fore (tofore) AM ... B₂, W

1325 4081 þi (þy) right MH₁L, BΔ

1326 4091 him AM

1327 4092 a lyte S alyte (alite) AJC, B, F

1328 4093 þenkest take B

1329 4115 is om. FWK

1330 4123 Al Irahel (Irael) J, S, FK Al Israhel (Israel &c.) AM ... B₂, W Of Israel G, AdBT

1331 4160 is on] but oon (on &c.) AM ... B₂

1332 4161 oonly (only) AM ... B₂

1333 4174 bot] and AM ... B₂

1334 4183 How him were leuere AdBT

1335 4185 an hondred AM ... B₂

1336 4186 þus AdBT, W

1337 4194 good] god F

1338 4208 ferste (first &c.) AM ... B₂ fist Ad

1339 4212 þenk C, S, F þenke AJ, B

1340 4222 good] at home S ... Δ

1341 4239 firste (ferst &c.) H₁ ... B₂, W fist(e) M, Ad

1342 4245 hihe (hye) AJC, S, F hih B

1343 4262 set A, S, F sette C, B

1344 4266 wommen AM ... B₂, W

1345 4269 womman J, AdBT, W

1346 4277 it om. AdBTΔ (ins. S)

1347 4312 I] men S ... Δ

1348 4314 Sardanapallus E, Δ, W

1349 4316 marg. Sardanapallus ER, Δ, W

1350 4317 marg. mulieri A ... B₂ (except E)

1351 4322 marg. voluptati H₁ ... B₂

1352 4321 waxþ (waxeþ, wexeþ) A ... B₂, Δ, W

1353 4331 þer as ... þer as AM

1354 4336 how þat þe king AMLB₂ how þe k. H₁ ... C

1355 4357 many JC, SB manye A, F

1356 4362 that] it AM ... B₂

1357 4365 margin viuatur AM vincit W

1358 4367 margin mirum H₁ ... B₂

1359 4372 marg. stabilire A ... B₂

1360 4375 marg. tempore B₂, BT

1361 4378 marg. indefenbiles F

1362 4381 betidd S, F betidde AC, B be tid J

1363 4395 fleyssly F

1364 4402 put AJ, S, F putte C, B

1365 4408 margin hic om. BT

1366 4415 ff. margin contaminati—ceciderunt] contaminati sunt (om. graciam—ceciderunt) BT

1367 4411 Irael (Irahel) J, S, FK rest Israel

1368 4415 of ȝong age B

1369 4424 aboughte MH₁GE, AdBΔ

1370 4435 god om. A

1371 4471 þastat (þe astate) AdBT

1372 4492 of which B om. Ad

1373 4525 kut (kutt) AJC, S, F cutte B

1374 4526 toward] vnto AdBT

1375 4557 f. As more ... is told AdB As more ... tolde T

1376 4559 margin Aristotiles om. B

1377 4572 fille H₁ ... B₂ fulle AM

1378 4573 tho] þe H₁ ... B₂, AdΔ, W

1379 4574 Anthonie AJ, F Antonie S antoigne B

1380 4581 Antonie S Anthonie A Antoine J, B, F

1381 4595 margin nuper Rome] rome nuper BT nuper A om. M

1382 4610 he hadde AM ... B₂

1383 4611 a] þe LB₂, Δ om. AM, T

1384 4628 ye me] I me AdBT

1385 4641 Whan þe lordes AM

1386 4646 The B₂, AdBT

1387 4662 þo he AdBT

1388 4688 told C, SB, F tolde A

1389 4737 ground F therthe] þer he AdBT þere (þer) H₁YXGERC, Λ

1390 4746 the] þat S ... Δ

1391 4754 Paragraph in MSS. at 4757

1392 4772 ther] þus B

1393 4780 Wher of (Wherof) AdBT, K

1394 4795 the om. A

1395 4796 þis ladyes B þeis ladis Ad þise lady (s erased) T

1396 4803 him AXGCR

1397 4810 were X, AdBT

1398 4812 seide B

1399 4814 swerd] schield (shelde) H₁, B

1400 4825 schulde (scholde) M, AdBT

1401 4832 dewe droppe AM, W

1402 4880 let GEC, AdBT

1403 4881 hir om. B her(e) H₁XR

1404 4886 liked SAdBT

1405 4887 in the dede] in dede AMXLB₂

1406 4914 And he AdBT

1407 4918 he lighte AdBT

1408 4920 he om. AdBT

1409 4929 þis wise AdBT

1410 4940 he om. AM

1411 4944 the om. AM a H₁

1412 4971 In to AdBT

1413 5043 f. minte ... stinte J, SB, F mente ... stente AEC

1414 5101 vnto X ... B₂

1415 5104 mannes herte trembled H₁ ... B₂, W manne herte trembled AM

1416 5113 fadre S, F fader AJC, B

1417 5130 olde ensample C, F old (oold) ensample AJ, B olde ensamples SΔ

1418 5133 margin super eodem om. B

1419 5140 margin tunc om. BT

1420 5135 and þus FWKMagd

1421 5161 þis Mariage SBTΔ

1422 5171 þe weie GB₂, S ... Δ

1423 5182 somouned (or sommoned) AJ, F somoned C, SB

1424 5184 stood (stode) H₁ ... B₂ stante W

1425 5201 schorte J, S, F schort AC, B

1426 5206 And þoughte to be þer þerfore H₁ ... B₂

1427 5220 torned AM ... B₂

1428 5239 fro] for J, AdBT

1429 5247 take (taake) AC, S, F tak J, B

1430 5251 aschamed ALM, Δ

1431 5263 Al with ... of blood T Al wiþ ... al blod B Wiþ ... al blode Ad

1432 5267 seide AJ, SB seid F

1433 5268 þis AMB₂

1434 5275 And for AdBT Or of W

1435 5279 haþ him AM, W

1436 5293 ffor þey B

1437 5327 withinne] which in AdBT

1438 5336 serued B

1439 5337 in such CRB₂

1440 5341 wriþe AJC, SB wriþ F

1441 5345 of] for AdBT

1442 5348 hise bondes J, S, FK his hondes H₁ ... B₂, AdTBΔ, WMagd hondes (om. his) AM

1443 5366 Of which AdBT, W O such H₁

1444 5379 cause AdBT

1445 5380 marg. Nota A, F om. C, B

1446 5383 put AJ, SB pit F

1447 5388 honeste H₁ ... B₂, Δ, WK

1448 5392 the om. AM

1449 5407 which I AdBT

1450 5411 so̅u̅n̅en F

1451 5417 S has lost two leaves (5417-viii. 336)

1452 5422 al om. H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

1453 5426 in to (into) AMB₂

[Pg 386]

Incipit Liber Octavus.

[Lechery.]

P. iii. 275

i. Que fauet ad vicium vetus hec modo regula confert,

Nec nouus econtra qui docet ordo placet.

Cecus amor dudum nondum sua lumina cepit,

Quo Venus impositum deuia fallit iter.

The myhti god, which unbegunne

Stant of himself and hath begunne

Postquam ad instanciam Amantis confessi Confessor Genius super hiis que Aristotiles Regem Alexandrum edocuit, vna cum aliarum Cronicarum exemplis seriose tractauit, iam vltimo in isto octauo volumine ad confessionem in amoris causa regrediens tractare proponit super hoc, quod nonnulli primordia nature ad libitum voluptuose consequentes, nullo humane racionis arbitrio seu ecclesie legum imposicione a suis excessibus debite refrenantur. Vnde quatenus amorem concernit Amantis conscienciam pro finali sue confessionis materia Genius rimari conatur.

Alle othre thinges at his wille,

The hevene him liste to fulfille

Of alle joie, where as he

Sit inthronized in his See,

And hath hise Angles him to serve,

Suche as him liketh to preserve,

So that thei mowe noght forsueie:

Bot Lucifer he putte aweie, 10

With al the route apostazied

Of hem that ben to him allied,

Whiche out of hevene into the helle1454

From Angles into fendes felle;

Wher that ther is no joie of lyht,

Bot more derk than eny nyht

P. iii. 276

The peine schal ben endeles;

And yit of fyres natheles

Ther is plente, bot thei ben blake,

Wherof no syhte mai be take. 20

Thus whan the thinges ben befalle,

That Luciferes court was falle

Wher dedly Pride hem hath conveied,

Anon forthwith it was pourveied

Thurgh him which alle thinges may;

[Pg 387]

[The Origin of Mankind.]

He made Adam the sexte day

In Paradis, and to his make

Him liketh Eve also to make,

And bad hem cresce and multiplie.

For of the mannes Progenie, 30

Which of the womman schal be bore,

The nombre of Angles which was lore,

Whan thei out fro the blisse felle,

He thoghte to restore, and felle

In hevene thilke holy place

Which stod tho voide upon his grace.

Bot as it is wel wiste and knowe,1455

Adam and Eve bot a throwe,

So as it scholde of hem betyde,

In Paradis at thilke tyde 40

Ne duelten, and the cause why,

Write in the bok of Genesi,

As who seith, alle men have herd,

Hou Raphael the fyri swerd

In honde tok and drof hem oute,

To gete here lyves fode aboute

P. iii. 277

Upon this wofull Erthe hiere.

Metodre seith to this matiere,1456

As he be revelacion

It hadde upon avision, 50

Hou that Adam and Eve also

Virgines comen bothe tuo

Into the world and were aschamed,

Til that nature hem hath reclamed

To love, and tauht hem thilke lore,

That ferst thei keste, and overmore

Thei don that is to kinde due,

Wherof thei hadden fair issue.

A Sone was the ferste of alle,

And Chain be name thei him calle;1457 60

Abel was after the secounde,

And in the geste as it is founde,

Nature so the cause ladde,

[Pg 388]

Tuo douhtres ek Dame Eve hadde,

The ferste cleped Calmana

Was, and that other Delbora.

[Laws of Marriage.]

Thus was mankinde to beginne;

Forthi that time it was no Sinne

The Soster forto take hire brother,

Whan that ther was of chois non other: 70

To Chain was Calmana betake,1458

And Delboram hath Abel take,1459

In whom was gete natheles

Of worldes folk the ferste encres.

Men sein that nede hath no lawe,

And so it was be thilke dawe

P. iii. 278

And laste into the Secounde Age,1460

Til that the grete water rage,

Of Noë which was seid the flod,1461

The world, which thanne in Senne stod, 80

Hath dreint, outake lyves Eyhte.

Tho was mankinde of litel weyhte;

Sem, Cham, Japhet, of these thre,

That ben the Sones of Noë,

The world of mannes nacion

Into multiplicacion

Was tho restored newe ayein

So ferforth, as the bokes sein,

That of hem thre and here issue

Ther was so large a retenue, 90

Of naciouns seventy and tuo;

In sondri place ech on of tho

The wyde world have enhabited.

Bot as nature hem hath excited,

Thei token thanne litel hiede,

The brother of the Sosterhiede

To wedde wyves, til it cam

Into the time of Habraham.1462

Whan the thridde Age was begunne,

The nede tho was overrunne,1463 100

For ther was poeple ynouh in londe:[Pg 389]

Thanne ate ferste it cam to honde,

That Sosterhode of mariage

Was torned into cousinage,

So that after the rihte lyne

The Cousin weddeth the cousine.

P. iii. 279

For Habraham, er that he deide,

This charge upon his servant leide,

To him and in this wise spak,

That he his Sone Isaäc 110

Do wedde for no worldes good,

Bot only to his oghne blod:

Wherof this Servant, as he bad,

Whan he was ded, his Sone hath lad

To Bathuel, wher he Rebecke

Hath wedded with the whyte necke;

For sche, he wiste wel and syh,

Was to the child cousine nyh.

And thus as Habraham hath tawht,

Whan Isaäc was god betawht, 120

His Sone Jacob dede also,

And of Laban the dowhtres tuo,

Which was his Em, he tok to wyve,

And gat upon hem in his lyve,

Of hire ferst which hihte Lie,

Sex Sones of his Progenie,

And of Rachel tuo Sones eke:

The remenant was forto seke,

That is to sein of foure mo,

Wherof he gat on Bala tuo, 130

And of Zelpha he hadde ek tweie.

And these tuelve, as I thee seie,

Thurgh providence of god himselve

Ben seid the Patriarkes tuelve;

Of whom, as afterward befell,

The tribes tuelve of Irahel1464

P. iii. 280

Engendred were, and ben the same

That of Hebreus tho hadden name,

Which of Sibrede in alliance

[Pg 390]

For evere kepten thilke usance 140

Most comunly, til Crist was bore.

Bot afterward it was forbore

Amonges ous that ben baptized;

For of the lawe canonized

The Pope hath bede to the men,1465

That non schal wedden of his ken

Ne the seconde ne the thridde.

Bot thogh that holy cherche it bidde,1466

So to restreigne Mariage,

Ther ben yit upon loves Rage 150

Full manye of suche nou aday

That taken wher thei take may.

For love, which is unbesein

Of alle reson, as men sein,

Thurgh sotie and thurgh nycete,

Of his voluptuosite

He spareth no condicion

Of ken ne yit religion,

Bot as a cock among the Hennes,

Or as a Stalon in the Fennes, 160

Which goth amonges al the Stod,

Riht so can he nomore good,

Bot takth what thing comth next to honde.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde,

That such delit is forto blame.

Forthi if thou hast be the same

P. iii. 281

To love in eny such manere,

Tell forth therof and schrif thee hiere.

Amans.

Mi fader, nay, god wot the sothe,

Mi feire is noght of such a bothe,1467 170

So wylde a man yit was I nevere,

That of mi ken or lief or levere

Me liste love in such a wise:

And ek I not for what emprise

I scholde assote upon a Nonne,

For thogh I hadde hir love wonne,

It myhte into no pris amonte,1468

[Pg 391]

So therof sette I non acompte.

Ye mai wel axe of this and that,

Bot sothli forto telle plat, 180

In al this world ther is bot on

The which myn herte hath overgon;

I am toward alle othre fre.

Full wel, mi Sone, nou I see

Confessor.

Thi word stant evere upon o place,1469

Bot yit therof thou hast a grace,

That thou thee myht so wel excuse

Of love such as som men use,1470

So as I spak of now tofore.

For al such time of love is lore, 190

And lich unto the bitterswete;

For thogh it thenke a man ferst swete,

He schal wel fielen ate laste

That it is sour and may noght laste.

For as a morsell envenimed,

So hath such love his lust mistimed,

P. iii. 282

And grete ensamples manyon

A man mai finde therupon.

[Examples of Incest. Caligula.]

At Rome ferst if we beginne,

Ther schal I finde hou of this sinne 200

Hic loquitur contra illos, quos Venus sui desiderii feruore inflammans ita incestuosos efficit, vt neque propriis Sororibus parcunt. Et narrat exemplum, qualiter pro eo quod Gayus Caligula tres sorores suas virgines coitu illicito opressit, deus tanti sceleris peccatum impune1471 non ferens ipsum non solum ab imperio set a vita iusticia vindice priuauit.1472
Narrat eciam aliud exemplum super eodem, qualiter Amon filius Dauid fatui amoris concupiscencia preuentus, sororem suam Thamar a sue virginitatis pudicicia inuitam deflorauit, propter quod et ipse a fratre suo Absolon postea interfectus, peccatum sue mortis precio inuitus redemit.

An Emperour was forto blame,

Gayus Caligula be name,

Which of his oghne Sostres thre

Berefte the virginite:

And whanne he hadde hem so forlein,1473

As he the which was al vilein,

He dede hem out of londe exile.

Bot afterward withinne a while

God hath beraft him in his ire

His lif and ek his large empire: 210

And thus for likinge of a throwe

For evere his lust was overthrowe.

Of this sotie also I finde,

[Pg 392]

[Ammon.]

Amon his Soster ayein kinde,

Which hihte Thamar, he forlay;

Bot he that lust an other day

Aboghte, whan that Absolon

His oghne brother therupon,

Of that he hadde his Soster schent,

Tok of that Senne vengement 220

And slowh him with his oghne hond:

And thus thunkinde unkinde fond.

[Lot and his Daughters.]

And forto se more of this thing,

The bible makth a knowleching,

Hic narrat, qualiter Loth duas filias suas ipsis consencientibus carnali copula cognouit, duosque ex eis filios, scilicet Moab et Amon, progenuit, quorum postea generacio praua et exasperans contra populum dei in terra saltim promissionis vario grauamine quam sepius insultabat.

Wherof thou miht take evidence

Upon the sothe experience.

P. iii. 283

Whan Lothes wif was overgon

And schape into the salte Ston,1474

As it is spoke into this day,

Be bothe hise dowhtres thanne he lay, 230

With childe and made hem bothe grete,1475

Til that nature hem wolde lete,

And so the cause aboute ladde

That ech of hem a Sone hadde,

Moab the ferste, and the seconde

Amon, of whiche, as it is founde,

Cam afterward to gret encres1476

Tuo nacions: and natheles,

For that the stockes were ungoode,1477

The branches mihten noght be goode; 240

For of the false Moabites

Forth with the strengthe of Amonites,

Of that thei weren ferst misgete,

The poeple of god was ofte upsete

In Irahel and in Judee,1478

As in the bible a man mai se.

Confessor.

Lo thus, my Sone, as I thee seie,

Thou miht thiselve be beseie

Of that thou hast of othre herd:

[Pg 393]

[Incest.]

For evere yit it hath so ferd, 250

Of loves lust if so befalle

That it in other place falle

Than it is of the lawe set,

He which his love hath so beset

Mote afterward repente him sore.

And every man is othres lore;

P. iii. 284

Of that befell in time er this1479

The present time which now is

May ben enformed hou it stod,

And take that him thenketh good, 260

And leve that which is noght so.

Bot forto loke of time go,1480

Hou lust of love excedeth lawe,

It oghte forto be withdrawe;

For every man it scholde drede,

And nameliche in his Sibrede,

Which torneth ofte to vengance:

Wherof a tale in remembrance,

Which is a long process to hiere,

I thenke forto tellen hiere. 270

[Apollonius of Tyre.]

ii. Omnibus est communis amor, set et immoderatos

Qui facit excessus, non reputatur amans.

Sors tamen vnde Venus attractat corda, videre

Que racionis erunt, non racione sinit.

Hic loquitur adhuc contra incestuosos amantum coitus. Et narrat mirabile exemplum de magno Rege Antiocho, qui vxore mortua propriam filiam violauit: et quia filie Matrimonium penes alios impedire voluit, tale ab eo exiit edictum, quod si quis eam in vxorem peteret, nisi ipse prius1481 quoddam problema questionis, quam ipse Rex proposuerat, veraciter solueret, capitali sentencia puniretur. Super quo veniens tandem discretus iuuenis princeps Tyri Appolinus questionem soluit; nec tamen filiam habere potuit, set Rex indignatus ipsum propter hoc in mortis odium recollegit. Vnde Appolinus a facie Regis fugiens, quam plura, prout inferius intitulantur, propter amorem pericla passus est.

Of a Cronique in daies gon,

The which is cleped Pantheon,

In loves cause I rede thus,

Hou that the grete Antiochus,

Of whom that Antioche tok

His ferste name, as seith the bok,

Was coupled to a noble queene,

And hadde a dowhter hem betwene:

Bot such fortune cam to honde,

That deth, which no king mai withstonde, 280

Bot every lif it mote obeie,

This worthi queene tok aweie.

[Pg 394]

P. iii. 285

The king, which made mochel mone,

Tho stod, as who seith, al him one

Withoute wif, bot natheles

His doghter, which was piereles

Of beaute, duelte aboute him stille.

Bot whanne a man hath welthe at wille,

The fleissh is frele and falleth ofte,

And that this maide tendre and softe, 290

Which in hire fadres chambres duelte,1482

Withinne a time wiste and felte:

For likinge and concupiscence1483

Withoute insihte of conscience

The fader so with lustes blente,

That he caste al his hole entente

His oghne doghter forto spille.

This king hath leisir at his wille1484

With strengthe, and whanne he time sih,

This yonge maiden he forlih: 300

And sche was tendre and full of drede,

Sche couthe noght hir Maidenhede

Defende, and thus sche hath forlore

The flour which sche hath longe bore.

It helpeth noght althogh sche wepe,

For thei that scholde hir bodi kepe

Of wommen were absent as thanne;

And thus this maiden goth to manne,

The wylde fader thus devoureth

His oghne fleissh, which non socoureth,1485 310

And that was cause of mochel care.

Bot after this unkinde fare

P. iii. 286

Out of the chambre goth the king,

And sche lay stille, and of this thing,

Withinne hirself such sorghe made,

Ther was no wiht that mihte hir glade,

For feere of thilke horrible vice.

With that cam inne the Norrice

Which fro childhode hire hadde kept,

[Pg 395]

And axeth if sche hadde slept, 320

And why hire chiere was unglad.

Bot sche, which hath ben overlad

Of that sche myhte noght be wreke,

For schame couthe unethes speke;

And natheles mercy sche preide

With wepende yhe and thus sche seide:

‘Helas, mi Soster, waileway,

That evere I sih this ilke day!

Thing which mi bodi ferst begat

Into this world, onliche that 330

Mi worldes worschipe hath bereft.’

With that sche swouneth now and eft,

And evere wissheth after deth,

So that welnyh hire lacketh breth.

That other, which hire wordes herde,

In confortinge of hire ansuerde,

To lette hire fadres fol desir1486

Sche wiste no recoverir:

Whan thing is do, ther is no bote,

So suffren thei that suffre mote; 340

Ther was non other which it wiste.

Thus hath this king al that him liste

P. iii. 287

Of his likinge and his plesance,

And laste in such continuance,

And such delit he tok therinne,

Him thoghte that it was no Sinne;

And sche dorste him nothing withseie.

Bot fame, which goth every weie,

To sondry regnes al aboute

The grete beaute telleth oute 350

Of such a maide of hih parage:

So that for love of mariage

The worthi Princes come and sende,

As thei the whiche al honour wende,1487

And knewe nothing hou it stod.1488

The fader, whanne he understod,

That thei his dowhter thus besoghte,

[Pg 396]

With al his wit he caste and thoghte1489

Hou that he myhte finde a lette;

And such a Statut thanne he sette, 360

And in this wise his lawe he taxeth,

That what man that his doghter axeth,1490

Bot if he couthe his question

Assoile upon suggestion

Of certein thinges that befelle,

The whiche he wolde unto him telle,

He scholde in certein lese his hed.

And thus ther weren manye ded,

Here hevedes stondende on the gate,

Till ate laste longe and late, 370

For lacke of ansuere in the wise,1491

The remenant that weren wise

P. iii. 288

Eschuieden to make assay.

De aduentu Appolini in Antiochiam, vbi ipse filiam Regis Antiochi in vxorem postulauit.

Til it befell upon a day

Appolinus the Prince of Tyr,

Which hath to love a gret desir,

As he which in his hihe mod

Was likende of his hote blod,

A yong, a freissh, a lusti knyht,

As he lai musende on a nyht 380

Of the tidinges whiche he herde,

He thoghte assaie hou that it ferde.

He was with worthi compainie

Arraied, and with good navie

To schipe he goth, the wynd him dryveth,

And seileth, til that he arryveth:

Sauf in the port of Antioche

He londeth, and goth to aproche

The kinges Court and his presence.

Of every naturel science, 390

Which eny clerk him couthe teche,

He couthe ynowh, and in his speche

Of wordes he was eloquent;

And whanne he sih the king present,

He preith he moste his dowhter have.

[Pg 397]

The king ayein began to crave,

And tolde him the condicion,

Hou ferst unto his question

He mote ansuere and faile noght,

Or with his heved it schal be boght: 400

And he him axeth what it was.

Questio Regis Antiochi.

The king declareth him the cas

P. iii. 289

With sturne lok and sturdi chiere,1492

To him and seide in this manere:

Scelere vehor, materna carne vescor, quero patrem meum, matris mee virum, vxoris mee filium.

‘With felonie I am upbore,

I ete and have it noght forbore

Mi modres fleissh, whos housebonde

Mi fader forto seche I fonde,

Which is the Sone ek of my wif.

Hierof I am inquisitif; 410

And who that can mi tale save,

Al quyt he schal my doghter have;

Of his ansuere and if he faile,

He schal be ded withoute faile.

Forthi my Sone,’ quod the king,

‘Be wel avised of this thing,1493

Which hath thi lif in jeupartie.’

Responsio Appollini.

Appolinus for his partie,

Whan he this question hath herd,1494

Unto the king he hath ansuerd 420

And hath rehersed on and on

The pointz, and seide therupon:

‘The question which thou hast spoke,

If thou wolt that it be unloke,

It toucheth al the privete

Betwen thin oghne child and thee,

And stant al hol upon you tuo.’

Indignacio Antiochi super responsione Appolini.1495

The king was wonder sory tho,

And thoghte, if that he seide it oute,

Than were he schamed al aboute. 430

With slihe wordes and with felle

He seith, ‘Mi Sone, I schal thee telle,

[Pg 398]

P. iii. 290

Though that thou be of litel wit,

It is no gret merveile as yit,

Thin age mai it noght suffise:

Bot loke wel thou noght despise

Thin oghne lif, for of my grace

Of thretty daies fulle a space

I grante thee, to ben avised.’

De recessu Appollini ab Antiochia.

And thus with leve and time assised 440

This yonge Prince forth he wente,

And understod wel what it mente,

Withinne his herte as he was lered,1496

That forto maken him afered

The king his time hath so deslaied.

Wherof he dradde and was esmaied,1497

Of treson that he deie scholde,

For he the king his sothe tolde;

And sodeinly the nyhtes tyde,

That more wolde he noght abide, 450

Al prively his barge he hente

And hom ayein to Tyr he wente:

And in his oghne wit he seide

For drede, if he the king bewreide,

He knew so wel the kinges herte,

That deth ne scholde he noght asterte,

The king him wolde so poursuie.

Bot he, that wolde his deth eschuie,

And knew al this tofor the hond,

Forsake he thoghte his oghne lond, 460

That there wolde he noght abyde;

For wel he knew that on som syde1498

P. iii. 291

This tirant of his felonie

Be som manere of tricherie

To grieve his bodi wol noght leve.

De fuga Appolini per mare1499 a Regno suo.

Forthi withoute take leve,

Als priveliche as evere he myhte,1500

He goth him to the See be nyhte

In Schipes that be whete laden:1501

[Pg 399]

Here takel redy tho thei maden 470

And hale up Seil and forth thei fare.1502

Bot forto tellen of the care

That thei of Tyr begonne tho,

Whan that thei wiste he was ago,

It is a Pite forto hiere.

They losten lust, they losten chiere,

Thei toke upon hem such penaunce,

Ther was no song, ther was no daunce,

Bot every merthe and melodie

To hem was thanne a maladie; 480

For unlust of that aventure

Ther was noman which tok tonsure,

In doelful clothes thei hem clothe,1503

The bathes and the Stwes bothe

Thei schetten in be every weie;

There was no lif which leste pleie

Ne take of eny joie kepe,

Bot for here liege lord to wepe;

And every wyht seide as he couthe,

‘Helas, the lusti flour of youthe, 490

Our Prince, oure heved, our governour,

Thurgh whom we stoden in honour,1504

P. iii. 292

Withoute the comun assent

Thus sodeinliche is fro ous went!’

Such was the clamour of hem alle.

Nota1505 qualiter Thaliartus Miles, vt Appolinum veneno intoxicaret, ab Antiocho in Tyrum missus, ipso ibidem non inuento Antiochiam rediit.

Bot se we now what is befalle

Upon the ferste tale plein,

And torne we therto ayein.

Antiochus the grete Sire,

Which full of rancour and of ire 500

His herte berth, so as ye herde,

Of that this Prince of Tyr ansuerde,

He hadde a feloun bacheler,

Which was his prive consailer,

And Taliart be name he hihte:1506

[Pg 400]

The king a strong puison him dihte

Withinne a buiste and gold therto,1507

In alle haste and bad him go

Strawht unto Tyr, and for no cost

Ne spare he, til he hadde lost1508 510

The Prince which he wolde spille.

And whan the king hath seid his wille,

This Taliart in a Galeie1509

With alle haste he tok his weie:

The wynd was good, he saileth blyve,

Til he tok lond upon the ryve

Of Tyr, and forth with al anon

Into the Burgh he gan to gon,

And tok his In and bod a throwe.

Bot for he wolde noght be knowe, 520

Desguised thanne he goth him oute;

He sih the wepinge al aboute,

P. iii. 293

And axeth what the cause was,

And thei him tolden al the cas,

How sodeinli the Prince is go.

And whan he sih that it was so,

And that his labour was in vein,

Anon he torneth hom ayein,

And to the king, whan he cam nyh,

He tolde of that he herde and syh, 530

Hou that the Prince of Tyr is fled,

So was he come ayein unsped.

The king was sori for a while,

Bot whan he sih that with no wyle

He myhte achieve his crualte,1510

He stinte his wraththe and let him be.

Qualiter Appolinus in portu Tharsis applicuit, vbi in hospicio cuiusdam magni viri nomine Strangulionis hospitatus est.

Bot over this now forto telle

Of aventures that befelle

Unto this Prince of whom I tolde,1511

He hath his rihte cours forth holde 540

Be Ston and nedle, til he cam

To Tharse, and there his lond he nam.

A Burgeis riche of gold and fee

[Pg 401]

Was thilke time in that cite,

Which cleped was Strangulio,

His wif was Dionise also:

This yonge Prince, as seith the bok,

With hem his herbergage tok;1512

And it befell that Cite so

Before time and thanne also, 550

Thurgh strong famyne which hem ladde

Was non that eny whete hadde.

P. iii. 294

Appolinus, whan that he herde1513

The meschief, hou the cite ferde,

Al freliche of his oghne yifte

His whete, among hem forto schifte,

The which be Schipe he hadde broght,

He yaf, and tok of hem riht noght.

Bot sithen ferst this world began,

Was nevere yit to such a man 560

Mor joie mad than thei him made:

For thei were alle of him so glade,

That thei for evere in remembrance

Made a figure in resemblance

Of him, and in the comun place1514

Thei sette him up, so that his face1515

Mihte every maner man beholde,

So as the cite was beholde;1516

It was of latoun overgilt:

Thus hath he noght his yifte spilt. 570

Qualiter Hellicanus ciuis Tyri Tharsim veniens Appolinum de insidiis Antiochi premuniuit.1517

Upon a time with his route1518

This lord to pleie goth him oute,

And in his weie of Tyr he mette

A man, the which on knees him grette,1519

And Hellican be name he hihte,

Which preide his lord to have insihte

Upon himself, and seide him thus,

Hou that the grete Antiochus

[Pg 402]

Awaiteth if he mihte him spille.

That other thoghte and hield him stille, 580

And thonked him of his warnynge,

And bad him telle no tidinge,1520

P. iii. 295

Whan he to Tyr cam hom ayein,

That he in Tharse him hadde sein.

Qualiter Appolinus portum Tharsis relinquens, cum ipse per mare nauigio securiorem quesiuit, superueniente tempestate nauis cum omnibus preter ipsum solum in eadem contentis iuxta Pentapolim periclitabatur.

Fortune hath evere be muable

And mai no while stonde stable:

For now it hiheth, now it loweth,

Now stant upriht, now overthroweth,

Now full of blisse and now of bale,

As in the tellinge of mi tale1521 590

Hierafterward a man mai liere,

Which is gret routhe forto hiere.

This lord, which wolde don his beste,

Withinne himself hath litel reste,

And thoghte he wolde his place change

And seche a contre more strange.

Of Tharsiens his leve anon

He tok, and is to Schipe gon:1522

His cours he nam with Seil updrawe,

Where as fortune doth the lawe, 600

And scheweth, as I schal reherse,

How sche was to this lord diverse,

The which upon the See sche ferketh.

The wynd aros, the weder derketh,

It blew and made such tempeste,

Non ancher mai the schip areste,

Which hath tobroken al his gere;

The Schipmen stode in such a feere,

Was non that myhte himself bestere,

Bot evere awaite upon the lere, 610

Whan that thei scholde drenche at ones.

Ther was ynowh withinne wones

P. iii. 296

Of wepinge and of sorghe tho;

This yonge king makth mochel wo

So forto se the Schip travaile:

Bot al that myhte him noght availe;

[Pg 403]

The mast tobrak, the Seil torof,

The Schip upon the wawes drof,

Til that thei sihe a londes cooste.

Tho made avou the leste and moste,1523 620

Be so thei myhten come alonde;

Bot he which hath the See on honde,

Neptunus, wolde noght acorde,

Bot altobroke cable and corde,1524

Er thei to londe myhte aproche,

The Schip toclef upon a roche,

And al goth doun into the depe.

Bot he that alle thing mai kepe

Unto this lord was merciable,

And broghte him sauf upon a table, 630

Which to the lond him hath upbore;

The remenant was al forlore,

Wherof he made mochel mone.1525

Qualiter Appolinus nudus super litus iactabatur, vbi quidam piscator ipsum suo collobio vestiens ad vrbem Pentapolim direxit.

Thus was this yonge lord him one,

Al naked in a povere plit:1526

His colour, which whilom was whyt,1527

Was thanne of water fade and pale,

And ek he was so sore acale

That he wiste of himself no bote,

It halp him nothing forto mote 640

To gete ayein that he hath lore.

Bot sche which hath his deth forbore,

P. iii. 297

Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe,

Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe,

Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie;

Ther cam a Fisshere in the weie,

And sih a man ther naked stonde,

And whan that he hath understonde

The cause, he hath of him gret routhe,

And onliche of his povere trouthe 650

Of suche clothes as he hadde

With gret Pite this lord he cladde.

[Pg 404]

And he him thonketh as he scholde,

And seith him that it schal be yolde,

If evere he gete his stat ayein,

And preide that he wolde him sein

If nyh were eny toun for him.

He seide, ‘Yee, Pentapolim,

Wher bothe king and queene duellen.’

Whanne he this tale herde tellen, 660

He gladeth him and gan beseche

That he the weie him wolde teche:

And he him taghte; and forth he wente

And preide god with good entente

To sende him joie after his sorwe.

Qualiter Appolino Pentapolim adueniente ludus Gignasii per vrbem publice proclamatus est.

It was noght passed yit Midmorwe,

Whan thiderward his weie he nam,1528

Wher sone upon the Non he cam.

He eet such as he myhte gete,

And forth anon, whan he hadde ete, 670

He goth to se the toun aboute,

And cam ther as he fond a route

P. iii. 298

Of yonge lusti men withalle;

And as it scholde tho befalle,

That day was set of such assisse,

That thei scholde in the londes guise,

As he herde of the poeple seie,1529

Here comun game thanne pleie;

And crid was that thei scholden come

Unto the gamen alle and some1530 680

Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte,

To do such maistrie as thei myhte.

Thei made hem naked as thei scholde,

For so that ilke game wolde,

As it was tho custume and us,1531

Amonges hem was no refus:

The flour of al the toun was there

And of the court also ther were,

And that was in a large place

[Pg 405]

Riht evene afore the kinges face, 690

Which Artestrathes thanne hihte.

The pley was pleid riht in his sihte,

And who most worthi was of dede

Receive he scholde a certein mede

And in the cite bere a pris.

Qualiter Appolinus ludum gignasii vincens in aulam1532 Regis ad cenam honorifice receptus est.

Appolinus, which war and wys

Of every game couthe an ende,

He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende,

And fell among hem into game:

And there he wan him such a name, 700

So as the king himself acompteth

That he alle othre men surmonteth,

P. iii. 299

And bar the pris above hem alle.

The king bad that into his halle

At Souper time he schal be broght;1533

And he cam thanne and lefte it noght,

Withoute compaignie al one:

Was non so semlich of persone,

Of visage and of limes bothe,

If that he hadde what to clothe. 710

At Soupertime natheles

The king amiddes al the pres

Let clepe him up among hem alle,

And bad his Mareschall of halle1534

To setten him in such degre

That he upon him myhte se.

The king was sone set and served,

And he, which hath his pris deserved1535

After the kinges oghne word,

Was mad beginne a Middel bord, 720

That bothe king and queene him sihe.

He sat and caste aboute his yhe

And sih the lordes in astat,

And with himself wax in debat

Thenkende what he hadde lore,

[Pg 406]

And such a sorwe he tok therfore,

That he sat evere stille and thoghte,

As he which of no mete roghte.

Qualiter Appolinus in cena recumbens nichil comedit, set doloroso vultu, submisso capite, ingemiscebat;1536 qui tandem a filia Regis confortatus cytharam plectens cunctis audientibus citharisando vltramodum complacuit.

The king behield his hevynesse,

And of his grete gentillesse 730

His doghter, which was fair and good

And ate bord before him stod,

P. iii. 300

As it was thilke time usage,

He bad to gon on his message

And fonde forto make him glad.

And sche dede as hire fader bad,

And goth to him the softe pas

And axeth whenne and what he was,

And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve.

He seith, ‘Ma Dame, be your leve 740

Mi name is hote Appolinus,

And of mi richesse it is thus,

Upon the See I have it lore.

The contre wher as I was bore,

Wher that my lond is and mi rente,

I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente:

The worschipe of this worldes aghte,1537

Unto the god ther I betaghte.’1538

And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke,

The teres runne be his cheeke. 750

The king, which therof tok good kepe,

Hath gret Pite to sen him wepe,

And for his doghter sende ayein,

And preide hir faire and gan to sein

That sche no lengere wolde drecche,

Bot that sche wolde anon forth fecche

Hire harpe and don al that sche can

To glade with that sory man.

And sche to don hir fader heste 760

Hir harpe fette, and in the feste

Upon a Chaier which thei fette

Hirself next to this man sche sette:

[Pg 407]

P. iii. 301

With harpe bothe and ek with mouthe

To him sche dede al that sche couthe

To make him chiere, and evere he siketh,

And sche him axeth hou him liketh.

‘Ma dame, certes wel,’ he seide,

‘Bot if ye the mesure pleide

Which, if you list, I schal you liere,

It were a glad thing forto hiere.’ 770

‘Ha, lieve sire,’ tho quod sche,

‘Now tak the harpe and let me se1539

Of what mesure that ye mene.’

Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene,

Forth with the lordes alle arewe,

That he som merthe wolde schewe;

He takth the Harpe and in his wise

He tempreth, and of such assise

Singende he harpeth forth withal,

That as a vois celestial 780

Hem thoghte it souneth in here Ere,

As thogh that he an Angel were.1540

Thei gladen of his melodie,

Bot most of all the compainie

The kinges doghter, which it herde,

And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde,1541

Whan that he was of hire opposed,1542

Withinne hir herte hath wel supposed

That he is of gret gentilesse.

Hise dedes ben therof witnesse 790

Forth with the wisdom of his lore;

It nedeth noght to seche more,

P. iii. 302

He myhte noght have such manere,

Of gentil blod bot if he were.

Whanne he hath harped al his fille,

The kinges heste to fulfille,

Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe,

Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe,

Thei risen and gon out of halle.

[Pg 408]

Qualiter Appolinus cum Rege pro filia sua erudienda retentus est.

The king his chamberlein let calle, 800

And bad that he be alle weie

A chambre for this man pourveie,

Which nyh his oghne chambre be.

‘It schal be do, mi lord,’ quod he.

Appolinus of whom I mene

Tho tok his leve of king and queene

And of the worthi Maide also,

Which preide unto hir fader tho,

That sche myhte of that yonge man1543

Of tho sciences whiche he can 810

His lore have; and in this wise

The king hir granteth his aprise,

So that himself therto assente.

Thus was acorded er thei wente,

That he with al that evere he may

This yonge faire freisshe May

Of that he couthe scholde enforme;1544

And full assented in this forme

Thei token leve as for that nyht.

Qualiter filia Regis Appolinum ornato apparatu vestiri fecit, et ipse ad puelle doctrinam in quampluribus familiariter intendebat: vnde placata puella in amorem Appolini exardescens infirmabatur.

And whanne it was amorwe lyht, 820

Unto this yonge man of Tyr

Of clothes and of good atir

P. iii. 303

With gold and Selver to despende

This worthi yonge lady sende:

And thus sche made him wel at ese,

And he with al that he can plese

Hire serveth wel and faire ayein.1545

He tawhte hir til sche was certein

Of Harpe, of Citole and of Rote,1546

With many a tun and many a note1547 830

Upon Musique, upon mesure,

And of hire Harpe the temprure

He tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe.

Bot as men sein that frele is youthe,

With leisir and continuance

This Mayde fell upon a chance,

[Pg 409]

That love hath mad him a querele

Ayein hire youthe freissh and frele,

That malgre wher sche wole or noght,1548

Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght 840

To love and to his lawe obeie;

And that sche schal ful sore abeie.

For sche wot nevere what it is,

Bot evere among sche fieleth this:1549

Thenkende upon this man of Tyr,

Hire herte is hot as eny fyr,

And otherwhile it is acale;

Now is sche red, nou is sche pale

Riht after the condicion

Of hire ymaginacion; 850

Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle,

Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle,1550

P. iii. 304

Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe,

Sche wolde hire goode name kepe

For feere of wommanysshe schame.

Bot what in ernest and in game,1551

Sche stant for love in such a plit,

That sche hath lost al appetit

Of mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste,1552

As sche that not what is the beste;1553 860

Bot forto thenken al hir fille

Sche hield hire ofte times stille

Withinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute:

The king was of hire lif in doute,

Which wiste nothing what it mente.

Qualiter tres filii Principum filiam Regis singillatim in vxorem suis supplicacionibus postularunt.

Bot fell a time, as he out wente

To walke, of Princes Sones thre

Ther come and felle to his kne;

And ech of hem in sondri wise

Besoghte and profreth his servise, 870

So that he myhte his doghter have.

The king, which wolde his honour save,1554

[Pg 410]

Seith sche is siek, and of that speche

Tho was no time to beseche;

Bot ech of hem do make a bille1555

He bad, and wryte his oghne wille,

His name, his fader and his good;

And whan sche wiste hou that it stod,

And hadde here billes oversein,

Thei scholden have ansuere ayein. 880

Of this conseil thei weren glad,

P. iii. 305

And writen as the king hem bad,

And every man his oghne bok

Into the kinges hond betok,

And he it to his dowhter sende,

And preide hir forto make an ende

And wryte ayein hire oghne hond,

Riht as sche in hire herte fond.

Qualiter filia Regis omnibus aliis relictis Appolinum in maritum preelegit.

The billes weren wel received,

Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved, 890

And thoghte tho was time and space

To put hire in hir fader grace,1556

And wrot ayein and thus sche saide:

‘The schame which is in a Maide

With speche dar noght ben unloke,

Bot in writinge it mai be spoke;

So wryte I to you, fader, thus:

Bot if I have Appolinus,

Of al this world, what so betyde,

I wol non other man abide. 900

And certes if I of him faile,

I wot riht wel withoute faile

Ye schull for me be dowhterles.’

This lettre cam, and ther was press

Tofore the king, ther as he stod;

And whan that he it understod,

He yaf hem ansuer by and by,

Bot that was do so prively,

That non of othres conseil wiste.

Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste 910

Thei wente forth upon here weie.

[Pg 411]

Qualiter Rex et Regina in maritagium filie sue cum Appolino consencierunt.

The king ne wolde noght bewreie

P. iii. 306

The conseil for no maner hihe,

Bot soffreth til he time sihe:

And whan that he to chambre is come,

He hath unto his conseil nome

This man of Tyr, and let him se

The lettre and al the privete,

The which his dowhter to him sente:

And he his kne to grounde bente 920

And thonketh him and hire also,

And er thei wenten thanne atuo,

With good herte and with good corage

Of full Love and full mariage

The king and he ben hol acorded.

And after, whanne it was recorded

Unto the dowhter hou it stod,

The yifte of al this worldes good1557

Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe:

And forth withal the king als swithe, 930

For he wol have hire good assent,

Hath for the queene hir moder sent.

The queene is come, and whan sche herde

Of this matiere hou that it ferde,

Sche syh debat, sche syh desese,

Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese,

And is therto assented full.

Which is a dede wonderfull,

For noman knew the sothe cas

Bot he himself, what man he was; 940

And natheles, so as hem thoghte,

Hise dedes to the sothe wroghte

P. iii. 307

That he was come of gentil blod:

Him lacketh noght bot worldes good,

And as therof is no despeir,

For sche schal ben hire fader heir,1558

And he was able to governe.

Thus wol thei noght the love werne

Of him and hire in none wise,

[Pg 412]

Bot ther acorded thei divise1559 950

The day and time of Mariage.

Qualiter Appolinus filie Regis nupsit, et prima nocte cum ea concubiens ipsam impregnauit.

Wher love is lord of the corage,

Him thenketh longe er that he spede;

Bot ate laste unto the dede

The time is come, and in her wise

With gret offrende and sacrifise

Thei wedde and make a riche feste,

And every thing which was honeste1560

Withinnen house and ek withoute

It was so don, that al aboute 960

Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse1561

Ther cride many a man largesse1562

Unto the lordes hihe and loude;

The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude,

Thei jouste ferst and after daunce.

The day is go, the nyhtes chaunce

Hath derked al the bryhte Sonne;

This lord, which hath his love wonne,

Is go to bedde with his wif,

Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif,1563 970

And that was after somdel sene,

For as thei pleiden hem betwene,

P. iii. 308

Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo,

To whom fell after mochel wo.

Qualiter Ambaciatores a Tyro in quadam naui Pentapolim venientes mortem Regis Antiochi Appolino nunciarunt.

Now have I told of the spousailes.1564

Bot forto speke of the mervailes

Whiche afterward to hem befelle,

It is a wonder forto telle.

It fell adai thei riden oute,1565

The king and queene and al the route, 980

To pleien hem upon the stronde,

Wher as thei sen toward the londe

A Schip sailende of gret array.

To knowe what it mene may,

[Pg 413]

Til it be come thei abide;

Than sen thei stonde on every side,

Endlong the schipes bord to schewe,

Of Penonceals a riche rewe.

Thei axen when the schip is come:

Fro Tyr, anon ansuerde some, 990

And over this thei seiden more

The cause why thei comen fore

Was forto seche and forto finde

Appolinus, which was of kinde1566

Her liege lord: and he appiereth,

And of the tale which he hiereth

He was riht glad; for thei him tolde,

That for vengance, as god it wolde,

Antiochus, as men mai wite,

With thondre and lyhthnynge is forsmite;1567 1000

His doghter hath the same chaunce,

So be thei bothe in o balance.

P. iii. 309

‘Forthi, oure liege lord, we seie

In name of al the lond, and preie,

That left al other thing to done,

It like you to come sone

And se youre oghne liege men

With othre that ben of youre ken,

That live in longinge and desir1568

Til ye be come ayein to Tyr.’ 1010

This tale after the king it hadde

Pentapolim al overspradde,

Ther was no joie forto seche;

For every man it hadde in speche

And seiden alle of on acord,

‘A worthi king schal ben oure lord:

That thoghte ous ferst an hevinesse

Is schape ous now to gret gladnesse.’

Thus goth the tidinge overal.

Qualiter Appolino cum vxore sua impregnata a Pentapoli versus Tyrum nauigantibus, contigit vxorem, mortis articulo angustiatam, in naui filiam, que postea Thaisis vocabatur, parere.

Bot nede he mot, that nede schal: 1020

Appolinus his leve tok,

To god and al the lond betok

[Pg 414]

With al the poeple long and brod,

That he no lenger there abod.1569

The king and queene sorwe made,

Bot yit somdiel thei weren glade

Of such thing as thei herden tho:

And thus betwen the wel and wo

To schip he goth, his wif with childe,

The which was evere meke and mylde 1030

And wolde noght departe him fro,

Such love was betwen hem tuo.

P. iii. 310

Lichorida for hire office

Was take, which was a Norrice,

To wende with this yonge wif,

To whom was schape a woful lif.

Withinne a time, as it betidde,

Whan thei were in the See amidde,

Out of the North they sihe a cloude;

The storm aros, the wyndes loude 1040

Thei blewen many a dredful blast,

The welkne was al overcast,

The derke nyht the Sonne hath under,

Ther was a gret tempeste of thunder:

The Mone and ek the Sterres bothe

In blake cloudes thei hem clothe,

Wherof here brihte lok thei hyde.1570

This yonge ladi wepte and cride,

To whom no confort myhte availe;

Of childe sche began travaile, 1050

Wher sche lay in a Caban clos:

Hire woful lord fro hire aros,

And that was longe er eny morwe,

So that in anguisse and in sorwe

Sche was delivered al be nyhte

And ded in every mannes syhte;1571

Bot natheles for al this wo

A maide child was bore tho.

Qualiter Appolinus vxoris sue mortem planxit.

Appolinus whan he this knew,

For sorwe a swoune he overthrew,1572 1060

[Pg 415]

That noman wiste in him no lif.

And whanne he wok, he seide, ‘Ha, wif,

P. iii. 311

Mi lust, mi joie, my desir,1573

Mi welthe and my recoverir,

Why schal I live, and thou schalt dye?

Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie,

Nou hast thou do to me thi werste.

Ha, herte, why ne wolt thou berste,

That forth with hire I myhte passe?1574

Mi peines weren wel the lasse.’ 1070

In such wepinge and in such cry

His dede wif, which lay him by,

A thousend sithes he hire kiste;

Was nevere man that sih ne wiste

A sorwe unto his sorwe lich;

For evere among upon the lich1575

He fell swounende, as he that soghte

His oghne deth, which he besoghte

Unto the goddes alle above

With many a pitous word of love; 1080

Bot suche wordes as tho were

Yit herde nevere mannes Ere,

Bot only thilke whiche he seide.

The Maister Schipman cam and preide

With othre suche as be therinne,

And sein that he mai nothing winne

Ayein the deth, bot thei him rede,

He be wel war and tak hiede,

The See be weie of his nature

Receive mai no creature 1090

Withinne himself as forto holde,

The which is ded: forthi thei wolde,

P. iii. 312

As thei conseilen al aboute,

The dede body casten oute.

For betre it is, thei seiden alle,

That it of hire so befalle,

Than if thei scholden alle spille.

[Pg 416]

The king, which understod here wille1576

Qualiter suadentibus nautis corpus vxoris sue mortue in quadam Cista plumbo et ferro obtusa1577 que circumligata Appolinus cum magno thesauro vna cum quadam littera sub eius capite scripta recludi et in mare1578 proici fecit.

And knew here conseil that was trewe,

Began ayein his sorwe newe 1100

With pitous herte, and thus to seie:

‘It is al reson that ye preie.

I am,’ quod he, ‘bot on al one,

So wolde I noght for mi persone

Ther felle such adversite.

Bot whan it mai no betre be,

Doth thanne thus upon my word,1579

Let make a cofre strong of bord,

That it be ferm with led and pich.’

Anon was mad a cofre sich,1580 1110

Al redy broght unto his hond;

And whanne he sih and redy fond

This cofre mad and wel enclowed,

The dede bodi was besowed

In cloth of gold and leid therinne.

And for he wolde unto hire winne

Upon som cooste a Sepulture,

Under hire heved in aventure

Of gold he leide Sommes grete

And of jeueals a strong beyete1581 1120

Forth with a lettre, and seide thus:

Copia littere Appolini capiti vxoris sue supposite.

‘I, king of Tyr Appollinus,

P. iii. 313

Do alle maner men to wite,

That hiere and se this lettre write,

That helpeles withoute red

Hier lith a kinges doghter ded:

And who that happeth hir to finde,

For charite tak in his mynde,1582

And do so that sche be begrave

With this tresor, which he schal have.’ 1130

Thus whan the lettre was full spoke,1583

Thei haue anon the cofre stoke,

[Pg 417]

And bounden it with yren faste,

That it may with the wawes laste,

And stoppen it be such a weie,

That it schal be withinne dreie,

So that no water myhte it grieve.

And thus in hope and good believe

Of that the corps schal wel aryve,

Thei caste it over bord als blyve. 1140

Qualiter Appolinus, vxoris sue corpore in mare proiecto, Tyrum relinquens cursum suum versus Tharsim nauigio dolens arripuit.

The Schip forth on the wawes wente;

The prince hath changed his entente,1584

And seith he wol noght come at Tyr

As thanne, bot al his desir

Is ferst to seilen unto Tharse.

The wyndy Storm began to skarse,

The Sonne arist, the weder cliereth,

The Schipman which behinde stiereth,

Whan that he sih the wyndes saghte,

Towardes Tharse his cours he straghte. 1150

Qualiter corpus predicte defuncte super litus apud Ephesim quidam medicus nomine Cerymon cum aliquibus suis discipulis inuenit; quod in hospicium suum1585 portans et extra cistam ponens, spiraculo vite in ea adhuc inuento, ipsam plene sanitati restituit.

Bot now to mi matiere ayein,

To telle as olde bokes sein,

P. iii. 314

This dede corps of which ye knowe

With wynd and water was forthrowe

Now hier, now ther, til ate laste

At Ephesim the See upcaste

The cofre and al that was therinne.

Of gret merveile now beginne

Mai hiere who that sitteth stille;

That god wol save mai noght spille. 1160

Riht as the corps was throwe alonde,

Ther cam walkende upon the stronde

A worthi clerc, a Surgien,

And ek a gret Phisicien,

Of al that lond the wisest on,

Which hihte Maister Cerymon;

Ther were of his disciples some.

This Maister to the Cofre is come,1586

He peiseth ther was somwhat in,

And bad hem bere it to his In, 1170

[Pg 418]

And goth himselve forth withal.

Al that schal falle, falle schal;

They comen hom and tarie noght;

This Cofre is into chambre broght,

Which that thei finde faste stoke,

Bot thei with craft it have unloke.

Thei loken in, where as thei founde

A bodi ded, which was bewounde1587

In cloth of gold, as I seide er,

The tresor ek thei founden ther 1180

Forth with the lettre, which thei rede.

And tho thei token betre hiede;

P. iii. 315

Unsowed was the bodi sone,

And he, which knew what is to done,1588

This noble clerk, with alle haste

Began the veines forto taste,

And sih hire Age was of youthe,

And with the craftes whiche he couthe

He soghte and fond a signe of lif.

With that this worthi kinges wif 1190

Honestely thei token oute,

And maden fyres al aboute;

Thei leide hire on a couche softe,

And with a scheete warmed ofte

Hire colde brest began to hete,

Hire herte also to flacke and bete.

This Maister hath hire every joignt

With certein oile and balsme enoignt,

And putte a liquour in hire mouth,

Which is to fewe clerkes couth, 1200

So that sche coevereth ate laste:

And ferst hire yhen up sche caste,

And whan sche more of strengthe cawhte,

Hire Armes bothe forth sche strawhte,

Hield up hire hond and pitously

Sche spak and seide, ‘Ha, wher am I?1589

Where is my lord, what world is this?’

[Pg 419]

As sche that wot noght hou it is.

Bot Cerymon the worthi leche

Ansuerde anon upon hire speche 1210

And seith, ‘Ma dame, yee ben hiere,

Where yee be sauf, as yee schal hiere

P. iii. 316

Hierafterward; forthi as nou

Mi conseil is, conforteth you:

For trusteth wel withoute faile,

Ther is nothing which schal you faile,

That oghte of reson to be do.’

Thus passen thei a day or tuo;

Thei speke of noght as for an ende,

Til sche began somdiel amende, 1220

And wiste hireselven what sche mente.

Qualiter vxor Appolini sanata domum religionis peciit, vbi sacro1591 velamine munita castam omni tempore se vouit.

Tho forto knowe hire hol entente,1590

This Maister axeth al the cas,

Hou sche cam there and what sche was.

‘Hou I cam hiere wot I noght,’

Quod sche, ‘bot wel I am bethoght

Of othre thinges al aboute’:

Fro point to point and tolde him oute

Als ferforthli as sche it wiste.

And he hire tolde hou in a kiste 1230

The See hire threw upon the lond,

And what tresor with hire he fond,

Which was al redy at hire wille,

As he that schop him to fulfille

With al his myht what thing he scholde.

Sche thonketh him that he so wolde,

And al hire herte sche discloseth,

And seith him wel that sche supposeth

Hire lord be dreint, hir child also;

So sih sche noght bot alle wo.1592 1240

Wherof as to the world nomore

Ne wol sche torne, and preith therfore

P. iii. 317

That in som temple of the Cite,

To kepe and holde hir chastete,

Sche mihte among the wommen duelle.

[Pg 420]

Whan he this tale hir herde telle,

He was riht glad, and made hire knowen

That he a dowhter of his owen

Hath, which he wol unto hir yive

To serve, whil thei bothe live, 1250

In stede of that which sche hath lost;

Al only at his oghne cost1593

Sche schal be rendred forth with hire.1594

She seith, ‘Grant mercy, lieve sire,

God quite it you, ther I ne may.’

And thus thei drive forth the day,

Til time com that sche was hol;

And tho thei take her conseil hol,1595

To schape upon good ordinance

And make a worthi pourveance1596 1260

Ayein the day whan thei be veiled.

And thus, whan that thei be conseiled,

In blake clothes thei hem clothe,

This lady and the dowhter bothe,

And yolde hem to religion.

The feste and the profession

After the reule of that degre

Was mad with gret solempnete,

Where as Diane is seintefied;

Thus stant this lady justefied 1270

In ordre wher sche thenkth to duelle.

Qualiter Appolinus Tharsim nauigans, filiam suam Thaisim Strangulioni et Dionisie vxori sue educandam commendauit; et deinde Tyrum adiit, vbi cum inestimabili gaudio a suis receptus est.

Bot now ayeinward forto telle

P. iii. 318

In what plit that hire lord stod inne:

He seileth, til that he may winne1597

The havene of Tharse, as I seide er;

And whanne he was aryved ther,

And it was thurgh the Cite knowe,1598

Men myhte se withinne a throwe,

As who seith, al the toun at ones,

That come ayein him for the nones, 1280

To yiven him the reverence,

So glad thei were of his presence:

[Pg 421]

And thogh he were in his corage

Desesed, yit with glad visage

He made hem chiere, and to his In,

Wher he whilom sojourned in,

He goth him straght and was resceived.

And whan the presse of poeple is weived,

He takth his hoste unto him tho,

And seith, ‘Mi frend Strangulio, 1290

Lo, thus and thus it is befalle,

And thou thiself art on of alle,

Forth with thi wif, whiche I most triste.1599

Forthi, if it you bothe liste,

My doghter Thaise be youre leve

I thenke schal with you beleve

As for a time; and thus I preie,

That sche be kept be alle weie,

And whan sche hath of age more,

That sche be set to bokes lore. 1300

And this avou to god I make,

That I schal nevere for hir sake

P. iii. 319

Mi berd for no likinge schave,

Til it befalle that I have

In covenable time of age

Beset hire unto mariage.’

Thus thei acorde, and al is wel,

And forto resten him somdel,

As for a while he ther sojorneth,

And thanne he takth his leve and torneth 1310

To Schipe, and goth him hom to Tyr,

Wher every man with gret desir

Awaiteth upon his comynge.

Bot whan the Schip com in seilinge,

And thei perceiven it is he,1600

Was nevere yit in no cite

Such joie mad as thei tho made;

His herte also began to glade

Of that he sih the poeple glad.1601

Lo, thus fortune his hap hath lad; 1320

[Pg 422]

In sondri wise he was travailed,

Bot hou so evere he be assailed,

His latere ende schal be good.

Qualiter Thaysis vna cum Philotenna Strangulionis et Dionisie filia omnis sciencie et honestatis doctrina imbuta est: set Thaisis Philotennam precellens in odium mortale per inuidiam a Dionisia recollecta est.

And forto speke hou that it stod

Of Thaise his doghter, wher sche duelleth,

In Tharse, as the Cronique telleth,

Sche was wel kept, sche was wel loked,

Sche was wel tawht, sche was wel boked,

So wel sche spedde hir in hire youthe

That sche of every wisdom couthe, 1330

That forto seche in every lond

So wys an other noman fond,

P. iii. 320

Ne so wel tawht at mannes yhe.

Bot wo worthe evere fals envie!1602

For it befell that time so,

A dowhter hath Strangulio,

The which was cleped Philotenne:

Bot fame, which wole evere renne,

Cam al day to hir moder Ere,

And seith, wher evere hir doghter were 1340

With Thayse set in eny place,

The comun vois, the comun grace

Was al upon that other Maide,

And of hir doghter noman saide.

Who wroth but Dionise thanne?

Hire thoghte a thousend yer til whanne

Sche myhte ben of Thaise wreke

Of that sche herde folk so speke.

And fell that ilke same tyde,

That ded was trewe Lychoride, 1350

Which hadde be servant to Thaise,

So that sche was the worse at aise,

For sche hath thanne no servise

Bot only thurgh this Dionise,

Which was hire dedlich Anemie

Thurgh pure treson and envie.

Sche, that of alle sorwe can,

Tho spak unto hire bondeman,

Which cleped was Theophilus,

[Pg 423]

And made him swere in conseil thus, 1360

That he such time as sche him sette

Schal come Thaise forto fette,

P. iii. 321

And lede hire oute of alle sihte,

Wher as noman hire helpe myhte,1603

Upon the Stronde nyh the See,

And there he schal this maiden sle.

This cherles herte is in a traunce,

As he which drad him of vengance

Whan time comth an other day;

Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay, 1370

Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille1604

Hire hestes at hire oghne wille.

Qualiter Dionisia Thaysim, vt occideretur,1605 Theophilo seruo suo tradidit, qui cum noctanter longius ab vrbe ipsam prope litus maris interficere proposuerat, Pirate ibidem prope1608 latitantes Thaisim de manu Carnificis eripuerunt, ipsamque vsque Ciuitatem Mitelenam ducentes, cuidam Leonino scortorum ibidem magistro vendiderunt.1609

The treson and the time is schape,

So fell it that this cherles knape1606

Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde1607

Upon the Stronde, and what sche scholde

Sche was adrad; and he out breide

A rusti swerd and to hir seide,

‘Thou schalt be ded.’ ‘Helas!’ quod sche,

‘Why schal I so?’ ‘Lo thus,’ quod he, 1380

‘Mi ladi Dionise hath bede,

Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede.’

This Maiden tho for feere schryhte,

And for the love of god almyhte

Sche preith that for a litel stounde

Sche myhte knele upon the grounde,

Toward the hevene forto crave,

Hire wofull Soule if sche mai save:1610

And with this noise and with this cry,1611

Out of a barge faste by, 1390

Which hidd was ther on Scomerfare,

Men sterten out and weren ware

P. iii. 322

Of this feloun, and he to go,

And sche began to crie tho,

[Pg 424]

‘Ha, mercy, help for goddes sake!

Into the barge thei hire take,

As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente.

Upon the See the wynd hem hente,

And malgre wher thei wolde or non,1612

Tofor the weder forth thei gon, 1400

Ther halp no Seil, ther halp non Ore,

Forstormed and forblowen sore

In gret peril so forth thei dryve,

Til ate laste thei aryve

At Mitelene the Cite.

In havene sauf and whan thei be,

The Maister Schipman made him boun,

And goth him out into the toun,

And profreth Thaise forto selle.

On Leonin it herde telle, 1410

Which Maister of the bordel was,

And bad him gon a redy pas

To fetten hire, and forth he wente,1613

And Thaise out of his barge he hente,

And to this bordeller hir solde.1614

And he, that be hire body wolde1615

Take avantage, let do crye,

That what man wolde his lecherie

Attempte upon hire maidenhede,

Lei doun the gold and he schal spede. 1420

And thus whan he hath crid it oute

In syhte of al the poeple aboute,

P. iii. 323

He ladde hire to the bordel tho.1616

Qualiter Leoninus Thaisim ad lupanar destinauit, vbi dei gracia preuenta ipsius virginitatem nullus violare potuit.

No wonder is thogh sche be wo:1617

Clos in a chambre be hireselve,

Ech after other ten or tuelve

Of yonge men to hire in wente;

Bot such a grace god hire sente,

That for the sorwe which sche made

Was non of hem which pouer hade 1430

[Pg 425]

To don hire eny vileinie.

This Leonin let evere aspie,

And waiteth after gret beyete;

Bot al for noght, sche was forlete,

That mo men wolde ther noght come.1618

Whan he therof hath hiede nome,

And knew that sche was yit a maide,

Unto his oghne man he saide,

That he with strengthe ayein hire leve

Tho scholde hir maidenhod bereve. 1440

This man goth in, bot so it ferde,

Whan he hire wofull pleintes herde

And he therof hath take kepe,

Him liste betre forto wepe

Than don oght elles to the game.

And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame,

And kneleth doun to therthe and preide1619

Unto this man, and thus sche seide:

‘If so be that thi maister wolde

That I his gold encresce scholde,1620 1450

It mai noght falle be this weie:

Bot soffre me to go mi weie

P. iii. 324

Out of this hous wher I am inne,

And I schal make him forto winne

In som place elles of the toun,

Be so it be religioun,1621

Wher that honeste wommen duelle.

And thus thou myht thi maister telle,

That whanne I have a chambre there,

Let him do crie ay wyde where, 1460

What lord that hath his doghter diere,

And is in will that sche schal liere

Of such a Scole that is trewe,

I schal hire teche of thinges newe,

Which as non other womman can1622

In al this lond.’ And tho this man

[Pg 426]

Hire tale hath herd, he goth ayein,

And tolde unto his maister plein

That sche hath seid; and therupon,

Whan than he sih beyete non 1470

At the bordel be cause of hire,

He bad his man to gon and spire

A place wher sche myhte abyde,

That he mai winne upon som side

Be that sche can: bot ate leste

Thus was sche sauf fro this tempeste.1623

Qualiter Thaisis a lupanari virgo liberata, inter sacras mulieres hospicium habens, sciencias quibus edocta fuit nobiles regni puellas ibidem edocebat.

He hath hire fro the bordel take,

Bot that was noght for goddes sake,

Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde.

Now comen tho that comen wolde 1480

Of wommen in her lusty youthe,

To hiere and se what thing sche couthe:

P. iii. 325

Sche can the wisdom of a clerk,

Sche can of every lusti werk1624

Which to a gentil womman longeth,

And some of hem sche underfongeth

To the Citole and to the Harpe,

And whom it liketh forto carpe

Proverbes and demandes slyhe,

An other such thei nevere syhe, 1490

Which that science so wel tawhte:

Wherof sche grete yiftes cawhte,

That sche to Leonin hath wonne;

And thus hire name is so begonne

Of sondri thinges that she techeth,

That al the lond unto hir secheth

Of yonge wommen forto liere.

Qualiter Theophilus ad Dionisiam mane rediens affirmauit se Thaisim occidisse; super quo Dionisia vna cum Strangulione marito suo dolorem in publico confingentes,1625 exequias et sepulturam honorifice quantum ad extra subdola coniectacione fieri constituerunt.

Nou lete we this maiden hiere,

And speke of Dionise ayein

And of Theophile the vilein,1626 1500

Of whiche I spak of nou tofore.

Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore,

This false cherl to his lady

Whan he cam hom, al prively

[Pg 427]

He seith, ‘Ma Dame, slain I have1627

This maide Thaise, and is begrave

In prive place, as ye me biede.

Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiede

And kep conseil, hou so it stonde.’1628

This fend, which this hath understonde, 1510

Was glad, and weneth it be soth:

Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth.1629

P. iii. 326

Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth,1630

And of sieknesse which sche feigneth

Sche seith that Taise sodeinly

Be nyhte is ded, ‘as sche and I

Togedre lyhen nyh my lord.’

Sche was a womman of record,

And al is lieved that sche seith;

And forto yive a more feith, 1520

Hire housebonde and ek sche bothe

In blake clothes thei hem clothe,

And made a gret enterrement;1631

And for the poeple schal be blent,

Of Thaise as for the remembrance,

After the real olde usance

A tumbe of latoun noble and riche

With an ymage unto hir liche

Liggende above therupon

Thei made and sette it up anon. 1530

Hire Epitaffe of good assisse

Was write aboute, and in this wise

It spak: ‘O yee that this beholde,

Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde1632

The faireste and the flour of alle,

Whos name Thaïsis men calle.

The king of Tyr Appolinus

Hire fader was: now lith sche thus.

Fourtiene yer sche was of Age,

Whan deth hir tok to his viage.’ 1540

Qualiter Appolinus in regno suo apud Tyrum existens parliamentum fieri constituit.

Thus was this false treson hidd,

[Pg 428]

Which afterward was wyde kidd,

P. iii. 327

As be the tale a man schal hiere.

Bot forto dare mi matiere,1633

To Tyr I thenke torne ayein,

And telle as the Croniqes sein.

Whan that the king was comen hom,

And hath left in the salte fom

His wif, which he mai noght foryete,

For he som confort wolde gete, 1550

He let somoune a parlement,

To which the lordes were asent;

And of the time he hath ben oute,

He seth the thinges al aboute,

And told hem ek hou he hath fare,1634

Whil he was out of londe fare;

And preide hem alle to abyde,

For he wolde at the same tyde

Do schape for his wyves mynde,

As he that wol noght ben unkinde. 1560

Solempne was that ilke office,

And riche was the sacrifice,

The feste reali was holde:

And therto was he wel beholde;

For such a wif as he hadde on

In thilke daies was ther non.

Qualiter Appolinus post parliamentum Tharsim pro Thaise filia sua querenda adiit, qua ibidem non inventa abinde navigio recessit.

Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghte

Upon his doghter, and besoghte

Suche of his lordes as he wolde,

That thei with him to Tharse scholde, 1570

To fette his doghter Taise there:

And thei anon al redy were,

P. iii. 328

To schip they gon and forth thei wente,

Til thei the havene of Tharse hente.

They londe and faile of that thei seche

Be coverture and sleyhte of speche:

This false man Strangulio,

And Dionise his wif also,

That he the betre trowe myhte,

[Pg 429]

Thei ladden him to have a sihte 1580

Wher that hir tombe was arraied.

The lasse yit he was mispaied,

And natheles, so as he dorste,

He curseth and seith al the worste

Unto fortune, as to the blinde,

Which can no seker weie finde;

For sche him neweth evere among,

And medleth sorwe with his song.

Bot sithe it mai no betre be,

Qualiter Nauis Appolini ventis agitata portum vrbis Mitelene in die quo festa Neptuni celebrare1635 consueuerunt applicuit; set ipse pre dolore Thaysis filie sue, quam mortuam reputabat, in fundo nauis obscuro iacens lumen videre noluit.

He thonketh god and forth goth he1636 1590

Seilende toward Tyr ayein.

Bot sodeinly the wynd and reyn

Begonne upon the See debate,

So that he soffre mot algate

The lawe which Neptune ordeigneth;

Wherof fulofte time he pleigneth,

And hield him wel the more esmaied

Of that he hath tofore assaied.

So that for pure sorwe and care,

Of that he seth his world so fare, 1600

The reste he lefte of his Caban,

That for the conseil of noman

P. iii. 329

Ayein therinne he nolde come,

Bot hath benethe his place nome,

Wher he wepende al one lay,

Ther as he sih no lyht of day.

And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve,

Til longe and late thei aryve

With gret distresce, as it was sene,

Upon this toun of Mitelene, 1610

Which was a noble cite tho.

And hapneth thilke time so,

The lordes bothe and the comune

The hihe festes of Neptune

Upon the stronde at the rivage,

As it was custumme and usage,

Sollempneliche thei besihe.

[Pg 430]

Qualiter Athenagoras vrbis Mitelene Princeps, nauim Appollini inuestigans, ipsum sic contristatum nichilque respondentem consolari satagebat.

Whan thei this strange vessel syhe

Come in, and hath his Seil avaled,

The toun therof hath spoke and taled. 1620

The lord which of the cite was,1637

Whos name is Athenagoras,

Was there, and seide he wolde se

What Schip it is, and who thei be

That ben therinne: and after sone,

Whan that he sih it was to done,

His barge was for him arraied,

And he goth forth and hath assaied.

He fond the Schip of gret Array,

Bot what thing it amonte may, 1630

He seth thei maden hevy chiere,

Bot wel him thenkth be the manere

P. iii. 330

That thei be worthi men of blod,1638

And axeth of hem hou it stod;

And thei him tellen al the cas,

Hou that here lord fordrive was,

And what a sorwe that he made,1639

Of which ther mai noman him glade.

He preith that he here lord mai se,

Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be, 1640

For he lith in so derk a place,1640

That ther may no wiht sen his face:

Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth,

He fond the ladre and doun he goth,

And to him spak, bot non ansuere

Ayein of him ne mihte he bere1641

For oght that he can don or sein;

And thus he goth him up ayein.

Tho was ther spoke in many wise1642

Amonges hem that weren wise, 1650

Now this, now that, bot ate laste

Qualiter precepto Principis, vt Appolinum consolaretur, Thaisis cum cithara sua ad ipsum in obscuro nauis, vbi jacebat, producta est.

The wisdom of the toun this caste,

That yonge Taise were asent.

For if ther be amendement

[Pg 431]

To glade with this woful king,

Sche can so moche of every thing,

That sche schal gladen him anon.

A Messager for hire is gon,

And sche cam with hire Harpe on honde,

And seide hem that sche wolde fonde 1660

Be alle weies that sche can,1643

To glade with this sory man.

P. iii. 331

Bot what he was sche wiste noght,

Bot al the Schip hire hath besoght

That sche hire wit on him despende,

In aunter if he myhte amende,

And sein it schal be wel aquit.

Whan sche hath understonden it,

Sche goth hir doun, ther as he lay,

Wher that sche harpeth many a lay 1670

And lich an Angel sang withal;

Bot he nomore than the wal

Tok hiede of eny thing he herde.

And whan sche sih that he so ferde,

Sche falleth with him into wordes,

And telleth him of sondri bordes,

And axeth him demandes strange,

Wherof sche made his herte change,

And to hire speche his Ere he leide

And hath merveile of that sche seide. 1680

For in proverbe and in probleme

Sche spak, and bad he scholde deme

In many soubtil question:1644

Bot he for no suggestioun

Which toward him sche couthe stere,

He wolde noght o word ansuere,

Bot as a madd man ate laste1645

His heved wepende awey he caste,

And half in wraththe he bad hire go.

Bot yit sche wolde noght do so, 1690

And in the derke forth sche goth,

Til sche him toucheth, and he wroth,

[Pg 432]

P. iii. 332

And after hire with his hond

He smot: and thus whan sche him fond

Desesed, courtaisly sche saide,

‘Avoi, mi lord, I am a Maide;

And if ye wiste what I am,

And out of what lignage I cam,

Ye wolde noght be so salvage.’

Qualiter, sicut deus destinauit, pater filiam inuentam recognouit.

With that he sobreth his corage 1700

And put awey his bevy chiere.

Bot of hem tuo a man mai liere

What is to be so sibb of blod:

Non wiste of other hou it stod,

And yit the fader ate laste

His herte upon this maide caste,

That he hire loveth kindely,

And yit he wiste nevere why.

Bot al was knowe er that thei wente;

For god, which wot here hol entente,1646 1710

Here hertes bothe anon descloseth.

This king unto this maide opposeth,

And axeth ferst what was hire name,1647

And wher sche lerned al this game,

And of what ken that sche was come.1648

And sche, that hath hise wordes nome,

Ansuerth and seith, ‘My name is Thaise,

That was som time wel at aise:

In Tharse I was forthdrawe and fed,

Ther lerned I, til I was sped, 1720

Of that I can. Mi fader eke

I not wher that I scholde him seke;

P. iii. 333

He was a king, men tolde me:

Mi Moder dreint was in the See.’

Fro point to point al sche him tolde,

That sche hath longe in herte holde,

And nevere dorste make hir mone

Bot only to this lord al one,

To whom hire herte can noght hele,

Torne it to wo, torne it to wele, 1730

[Pg 433]

Torne it to good, torne it to harm.

And he tho toke hire in his arm,1649

Bot such a joie as he tho made

Was nevere sen; thus be thei glade,

That sory hadden be toforn.

Fro this day forth fortune hath sworn

To sette him upward on the whiel;

So goth the world, now wo, now wel:

This king hath founde newe grace,

So that out of his derke place 1740

He goth him up into the liht,

And with him cam that swete wiht,

His doghter Thaise, and forth anon

Thei bothe into the Caban gon

Which was ordeigned for the king,

And ther he dede of al his thing,

And was arraied realy.

Qualiter Athenagoras Appolinum de naui in hospicium honorifice recollegit, et Thaisim, patre consenciente, in vxorem duxit.

And out he cam al openly,

Wher Athenagoras he fond,

The which was lord of al the lond:1650 1750

He preith the king to come and se

His castell bothe and his cite,

P. iii. 334

And thus thei gon forth alle in fiere,

This king, this lord, this maiden diere.1651

This lord tho made hem riche feste

With every thing which was honeste,1652

To plese with this worthi king,

Ther lacketh him no maner thing:

Bot yit for al his noble array

Wifles he was into that day, 1760

As he that yit was of yong Age;1653

So fell ther into his corage

The lusti wo, the glade peine

Of love, which noman restreigne

Yit nevere myhte as nou tofore.

This lord thenkth al his world forlore,

Bot if the king wol don him grace;

[Pg 434]

He waiteth time, he waiteth place,

Him thoghte his herte wol tobreke,

Til he mai to this maide speke 1770

And to hir fader ek also

For mariage: and it fell so,

That al was do riht as he thoghte,

His pourpos to an ende he broghte,

Sche weddeth him as for hire lord;

Thus be thei alle of on acord.

Qualiter Appolinus vna cum filia et eius marito nauim ingredientes a Mitelena vsque Tharsim cursum proposuerunt. Set Appolinus in sompnis ammonitus versus Ephesim, vt ibidem in templo Diane sacrificaret, vela per mare diuertit.

Whan al was do riht as thei wolde,

The king unto his Sone tolde

Of Tharse thilke traiterie,

And seide hou in his compaignie 1780

His doghter and himselven eke

Schull go vengance forto seke.

P. iii. 335

The Schipes were redy sone,

And whan thei sihe it was to done,

Withoute lette of eny wente

With Seil updrawe forth thei wente

Towardes Tharse upon the tyde.

Bot he that wot what schal betide,

The hihe god, which wolde him kepe,

Whan that this king was faste aslepe,1654 1790

Be nyhtes time he hath him bede

To seile into an other stede:1655

To Ephesim he bad him drawe,

And as it was that time lawe,

He schal do there his sacrifise;

And ek he bad in alle wise

That in the temple amonges alle

His fortune, as it is befalle,

Touchende his doghter and his wif

He schal beknowe upon his lif. 1800

The king of this Avisioun

Hath gret ymaginacioun,

What thing it signefie may;

And natheles, whan it was day,

He bad caste Ancher and abod;

And whil that he on Ancher rod,

[Pg 435]

The wynd, which was tofore strange,

Upon the point began to change,

And torneth thider as it scholde.

Tho knew he wel that god it wolde, 1810

And bad the Maister make him yare,

Tofor the wynd for he wol fare

P. iii. 336

To Ephesim, and so he dede.

And whanne he cam unto the stede

Where as he scholde londe, he londeth

With al the haste he may, and fondeth

To schapen him be such a wise,

That he may be the morwe arise

And don after the mandement

Of him which hath him thider sent. 1820

And in the wise that he thoghte,

Upon the morwe so he wroghte;

His doghter and his Sone he nom,

And forth unto the temple he com

With a gret route in compaignie,

Hise yiftes forto sacrifie.

The citezeins tho herden seie

Of such a king that cam to preie

Unto Diane the godesse,

And left al other besinesse, 1830

Thei comen thider forto se

The king and the solempnete.

Qualiter Appolinus Ephesim in templo Diane sacrificans, vxorem suam ibidem velatam inuenit; qua secum assumpta in Nauim, versus Tyrum regressus est.

With worthi knyhtes environed

The king himself hath abandoned

Into the temple in good entente.

The dore is up, and he in wente,1656

Wher as with gret devocioun

Of holi contemplacioun

Withinne his herte he made his schrifte;

And after that a riche yifte 1840

He offreth with gret reverence,

And there in open Audience1657

P. iii. 337

Of hem that stoden thanne aboute,1658

He tolde hem and declareth oute

[Pg 436]

His hap, such as him is befalle,

Ther was nothing foryete of alle.

His wif, as it was goddes grace,

Which was professed in the place,

As sche that was Abbesse there,

Unto his tale hath leid hire Ere: 1850

Sche knew the vois and the visage,

For pure joie as in a rage

Sche strawhte unto him al at ones,

And fell aswoune upon the stones,1659

Wherof the temple flor was paved.

Sche was anon with water laved,

Til sche cam to hirself ayein,

And thanne sche began to sein:

‘Ha, blessed be the hihe sonde,

That I mai se myn housebonde, 1860

That whilom he and I were on!’1660

The king with that knew hire anon,

And tok hire in his Arm and kiste;

And al the toun thus sone it wiste.

Tho was ther joie manyfold,

For every man this tale hath told

As for miracle, and were glade,

Bot nevere man such joie made

As doth the king, which hath his wif.

And whan men herde hou that hir lif 1870

Was saved, and be whom it was,

Thei wondren alle of such a cas:

P. iii. 338

Thurgh al the Lond aros the speche

Of Maister Cerymon the leche

And of the cure which he dede.

The king himself tho hath him bede,

And ek this queene forth with him,1661

That he the toun of Ephesim

Wol leve and go wher as thei be,

For nevere man of his degre 1880

Hath do to hem so mochel good;

And he his profit understod,

[Pg 437]

And granteth with hem forto wende.

And thus thei maden there an ende,

And token leve and gon to Schipe

With al the hole felaschipe.

Qualiter Appolinus vna cum vxore et filia sua Thyrum applicuit.

This king, which nou hath his desir,

Seith he wol holde his cours to Tyr.

Thei hadden wynd at wille tho,

With topseilcole and forth they go,1662 1890

And striken nevere, til thei come

To Tyr, where as thei havene nome,1663

And londen hem with mochel blisse.

Tho was ther many a mowth to kisse,

Echon welcometh other hom,

Bot whan the queen to londe com,

And Thaise hir doghter be hir side,

The joie which was thilke tyde

Ther mai no mannes tunge telle:

Thei seiden alle, ‘Hier comth the welle 1900

Of alle wommannysshe grace.’

The king hath take his real place,

P. iii. 339

The queene is into chambre go:

Ther was gret feste arraied tho;

Whan time was, thei gon to mete,

Alle olde sorwes ben foryete,

And gladen hem with joies newe:

The descoloured pale hewe

Is now become a rody cheke,

Ther was no merthe forto seke, 1910

Bot every man hath that he wolde.1664

Qualiter Appolinus Athenagoram cum Thaise vxore sua super Tyrum coronari fecit.1665

The king, as he wel couthe and scholde,

Makth to his poeple riht good chiere;

And after sone, as thou schalt hiere,

A parlement he hath sommoned,

Wher he his doghter hath coroned

Forth with the lord of Mitelene,

That on is king, that other queene:

And thus the fadres ordinance

[Pg 438]

This lond hath set in governance,1666 1920

And seide thanne he wolde wende1667

To Tharse, forto make an ende

Of that his doghter was betraied.

Therof were alle men wel paied,1668

And seide hou it was forto done:

The Schipes weren redi sone,

And strong pouer with him he tok;1669

Up to the Sky he caste his lok,1670

And syh the wynd was covenable.

Qualiter Appolinus a Tyro per mare versus Tharsim iter arripiens vindictam contra Strangulionem et Dionisiam vxorem suam pro iniuria, quam ipsi Thaisi filie sue intulerunt, iudicialiter assecutus est.

Thei hale up Ancher with the cable, 1930

The Seil on hih, the Stiere in honde,1671

And seilen, til thei come alonde

P. iii. 340

At Tharse nyh to the cite;

And whan thei wisten it was he,

The toun hath don him reverence.

He telleth hem the violence,

Which the tretour Strangulio

And Dionise him hadde do

Touchende his dowhter, as yee herde;1672

And whan thei wiste hou that it ferde,1673 1940

As he which pes and love soghte,

Unto the toun this he besoghte,

To don him riht in juggement.

Anon thei were bothe asent

With strengthe of men, and comen sone,

And as hem thoghte it was to done,

Atteint thei were be the lawe

And diemed forto honge and drawe,

And brent and with the wynd toblowe,

That al the world it myhte knowe: 1950

And upon this condicion

The dom in execucion

Was put anon withoute faile.

And every man hath gret mervaile,

[Pg 439]

Which herde tellen of this chance,

And thonketh goddes pourveance,

Which doth mercy forth with justice.

Slain is the moerdrer and moerdrice

Thurgh verray trowthe of rihtwisnesse,

And thurgh mercy sauf is simplesse 1960

Of hire whom mercy preserveth;

Thus hath he wel that wel deserveth.

P. iii. 341

Qualiter Artestrate Pentapolim Rege mortuo, ipsi de regno Epistolas super hoc Appolino direxerunt: vnde Appolinus vna cum vxore sua ibidem aduenientes ad decus imperii cum magno gaudio coronati sunt.

Whan al this thing is don and ended,

This king, which loved was and frended,

A lettre hath, which cam to him

Be Schipe fro Pentapolim,

Be which the lond hath to him write,1674

That he wolde understonde and wite

Hou in good mynde and in good pes

Ded is the king Artestrates, 1970

Wherof thei alle of on acord

Him preiden, as here liege lord,

That he the lettre wel conceive1675

And come his regne to receive,

Which god hath yove him and fortune;

And thus besoghte the commune

Forth with the grete lordes alle.

This king sih how it was befalle,1676

Fro Tharse and in prosperite

He tok his leve of that Cite 1980

And goth him into Schipe ayein:

The wynd was good, the See was plein,

Hem nedeth noght a Riff to slake,

Til thei Pentapolim have take.

The lond, which herde of that tidinge,

Was wonder glad of his cominge;

He resteth him a day or tuo

And tok his conseil to him tho,

And sette a time of Parlement,

Wher al the lond of on assent 1990

Forth with his wif hath him corouned,

[Pg 440]

Wher alle goode him was fuisouned.

P. iii. 342

Lo, what it is to be wel grounded:1677

For he hath ferst his love founded

Honesteliche as forto wedde,

Honesteliche his love he spedde

And hadde children with his wif,

And as him liste he ladde his lif;

And in ensample his lif was write,1678

That alle lovers myhten wite 2000

How ate laste it schal be sene

Of love what thei wolden mene.

For se now on that other side,

Antiochus with al his Pride,

Which sette his love unkindely,

His ende he hadde al sodeinly,1679

Set ayein kinde upon vengance,

And for his lust hath his penance.

Confessor ad Amantem.1680

Lo thus, mi Sone, myht thou liere

What is to love in good manere, 2010

And what to love in other wise:

The mede arist of the servise;

Fortune, thogh sche be noght stable,

Yit at som time is favorable

To hem that ben of love trewe.

Bot certes it is forto rewe

To se love ayein kinde falle,

For that makth sore a man to falle,

As thou myht of tofore rede.

Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede 2020

To lete al other love aweie,

Bot if it be thurgh such a weie

P. iii. 343

As love and reson wolde acorde.

For elles, if that thou descorde,

And take lust as doth a beste,

Thi love mai noght ben honeste;

For be no skile that I finde

[Pg 441]

[The Lover requires Counsel.]

Such lust is noght of loves kinde.

Confessio Amantis, vnde pro finali conclusione consilium Confessoris impetrat.

Mi fader, hou so that it stonde,

Youre tale is herd and understonde, 2030

As thing which worthi is to hiere,

Of gret ensample and gret matiere,

Wherof, my fader, god you quyte.

Bot in this point miself aquite

I mai riht wel, that nevere yit

I was assoted in my wit,

Bot only in that worthi place

Wher alle lust and alle grace

Is set, if that danger ne were.

Bot that is al my moste fere: 2040

I not what ye fortune acompte,

Bot what thing danger mai amonte

I wot wel, for I have assaied;

For whan myn herte is best arraied

And I have al my wit thurghsoght

Of love to beseche hire oght,

For al that evere I skile may,1681

I am concluded with a nay:

That o sillable hath overthrowe

A thousend wordes on a rowe 2050

Of suche as I best speke can;

Thus am I bot a lewed man.

P. iii. 344

Bot, fader, for ye ben a clerk

Of love, and this matiere is derk,

And I can evere leng the lasse,

Bot yit I mai noght let it passe,1682

Youre hole conseil I beseche,

That ye me be som weie teche

What is my beste, as for an ende.

Mi Sone, unto the trouthe wende 2060

Now wol I for the love of thee,

And lete alle othre truffles be.1683

The more that the nede is hyh,

The more it nedeth to be slyh

[Pg 442]

[The Confessor Replies.]

To him which hath the nede on honde.

I have wel herd and understonde,

Mi Sone, al that thou hast me seid,

Hic super Amoris causa finita confessione, Confessor Genius Amanti ea que sibi salubrius expediunt, sano consilio finaliter iniungit.

And ek of that thou hast me preid,

Nou at this time that I schal

As for conclusioun final 2070

Conseile upon thi nede sette:1684

So thenke I finaly to knette

This cause, where it is tobroke,

And make an ende of that is spoke.1685

For I behihte thee that yifte

Ferst whan thou come under my schrifte,

That thogh I toward Venus were,

Yit spak I suche wordes there,

That for the Presthod which I have,

Min ordre and min astat to save, 2080

I seide I wolde of myn office

To vertu more than to vice

P. iii. 345

Encline, and teche thee mi lore.

Forthi to speken overmore

Of love, which thee mai availe,

Tak love where it mai noght faile:1686

For as of this which thou art inne,

Be that thou seist it is a Sinne,

And Sinne mai no pris deserve,

Withoute pris and who schal serve, 2090

I not what profit myhte availe.

Thus folweth it, if thou travaile,

Wher thou no profit hast ne pris,

Thou art toward thiself unwis:

And sett thou myhtest lust atteigne,1687

Of every lust thende is a peine,

And every peine is good to fle;

So it is wonder thing to se,1688

Why such a thing schal be desired.

[Pg 443]

The more that a Stock is fyred, 2100

The rathere into Aisshe it torneth;

The fot which in the weie sporneth

Fulofte his heved hath overthrowe;

Thus love is blind and can noght knowe1689

Wher that he goth, til he be falle:

Forthi, bot if it so befalle1690

With good conseil that he be lad,

Him oghte forto ben adrad.

For conseil passeth alle thing

To him which thenkth to ben a king; 2110

And every man for his partie

A kingdom hath to justefie,

P. iii. 346

That is to sein his oghne dom.

If he misreule that kingdom,

He lest himself, and that is more

Than if he loste Schip and Ore

And al the worldes good withal:

For what man that in special

Hath noght himself, he hath noght elles,

Nomor the perles than the schelles; 2120

Al is to him of o value:

Thogh he hadde at his retenue

The wyde world riht as he wolde,

Whan he his herte hath noght withholde

Toward himself, al is in vein.

And thus, my Sone, I wolde sein,

As I seide er, that thou aryse,

Er that thou falle in such a wise

That thou ne myht thiself rekevere:

For love, which that blind was evere, 2130

Makth alle his servantz blinde also.

My Sone, and if thou have be so,

Yit is it time to withdrawe,

And set thin herte under that lawe,1691

The which of reson is governed

And noght of will. And to be lerned,

Ensamples thou hast many on

[Pg 444]

Of now and ek of time gon,1692

That every lust is bot a while;

And who that wole himself beguile, 2140

He may the rathere be deceived.

Mi Sone, now thou hast conceived

P. iii. 347

Somwhat of that I wolde mene;

Hierafterward it schal be sene

If that thou lieve upon mi lore;

For I can do to thee nomore

Bot teche thee the rihte weie:

Now ches if thou wolt live or deie.

[The Controversy.]

Mi fader, so as I have herd

Your tale, bot it were ansuerd, 2150

Hic loquitur de controuersia, que inter Confessorem et Amantem in fine confessionis versabatur.

I were mochel forto blame.

Mi wo to you is bot a game,

That fielen noght of that I fiele;1693

The fielinge of a mannes Hiele

Mai noght be likned to the Herte:

I mai noght, thogh I wolde, asterte,

And ye be fre from al the peine

Of love, wherof I me pleigne.

It is riht esi to comaunde;

The hert which fre goth on the launde 2160

Not of an Oxe what him eileth;

It falleth ofte a man merveileth

Of that he seth an other fare,

Bot if he knewe himself the fare,

And felt it as it is in soth,

He scholde don riht as he doth,

Or elles werse in his degre:

For wel I wot, and so do ye,

That love hath evere yit ben used,

So mot I nedes ben excused. 2170

Bot, fader, if ye wolde thus

Unto Cupide and to Venus

P. iii. 348

Be frendlich toward mi querele,

So that myn herte were in hele

[Pg 445]

Of love which is in mi briest,

I wot wel thanne a betre Prest

Was nevere mad to my behove.

Bot al the whiles that I hove1694

In noncertein betwen the tuo,1695

And not if I to wel or wo1696 2180

Schal torne, that is al my drede,

So that I not what is to rede.

Bot for final conclusion

I thenke a Supplicacion

With pleine wordes and expresse

Wryte unto Venus the goddesse,

The which I preie you to bere

And bringe ayein a good ansuere.

Tho was betwen mi Prest and me

Debat and gret perplexete: 2190

Mi resoun understod him wel,

And knew it was soth everydel

That he hath seid, bot noght forthi

Mi will hath nothing set therby.

For techinge of so wis a port1697

Is unto love of no desport;

Yit myhte nevere man beholde

Reson, wher love was withholde,

Thei be noght of o governance.

And thus we fellen in distance, 2200

Mi Prest and I, bot I spak faire,

And thurgh mi wordes debonaire

P. iii. 349

Thanne ate laste we acorden,1698

So that he seith he wol recorden

To speke and stonde upon mi syde

To Venus bothe and to Cupide;

And bad me wryte what I wolde,

And seith me trewly that he scholde

Mi lettre here unto the queene.

And I sat doun upon the grene 2210

[Pg 446]

[The Supplication.]

Fulfilt of loves fantasie,

And with the teres of myn ÿe

In stede of enke I gan to wryte

The wordes whiche I wolde endite1699

Unto Cupide and to Venus,

And in mi lettre I seide thus.

The wofull peine of loves maladie,

Hic tractat formam cuiusdam Supplicacionis, quam ex parte Amantis per manus Genii Sacerdotis sui Venus sibi porrectam acceptabat.

Ayein the which mai no phisique availe,

Min herte hath so bewhaped with sotie,

That wher so that I reste or I travaile,1700 2220

I finde it evere redy to assaile

Mi resoun, which that can him noght defende:

Thus seche I help, wherof I mihte amende.

Ferst to Nature if that I me compleigne,

Ther finde I hou that every creature

Som time ayer hath love in his demeine,

So that the litel wrenne in his mesure

Hath yit of kinde a love under his cure;1701

And I bot on desire, of which I misse:

And thus, bot I, hath every kinde his blisse. 2230

P. iii. 350

The resoun of my wit it overpasseth,

Of that Nature techeth me the weie

To love, and yit no certein sche compasseth

Hou I schal spede, and thus betwen the tweie

I stonde, and not if I schal live or deie.

For thogh reson ayein my will debate,

I mai noght fle, that I ne love algate.

Upon miself is thilke tale come,

Hou whilom Pan, which is the god of kinde,

With love wrastlede and was overcome:1702 2240

For evere I wrastle and evere I am behinde,

That I no strengthe in al min herte finde,

Wherof that I mai stonden eny throwe;

So fer mi wit with love is overthrowe.

[Pg 447]

Whom nedeth help, he mot his helpe crave,

Or helpeles he schal his nede spille:

Pleinly thurghsoght my wittes alle I have,1703

Bot non of hem can helpe after mi wille;

And als so wel I mihte sitte stille,

As preie unto mi lady eny helpe: 2250

Thus wot I noght wherof miself to helpe.1704

Unto the grete Jove and if I bidde,

To do me grace of thilke swete tunne,

Which under keie in his celier amidde

Lith couched, that fortune is overrunne,

Bot of the bitter cuppe I have begunne,

I not hou ofte, and thus finde I no game;1705

For evere I axe and evere it is the same.

P. iii. 351

I se the world stonde evere upon eschange,

Nou wyndes loude, and nou the weder softe; 2260

I mai sen ek the grete mone change,

And thing which nou is lowe is eft alofte;

The dredfull werres into pes fulofte

Thei torne; and evere is Danger in o place,

Which wol noght change his will to do me grace.

Bot upon this the grete clerc Ovide,

Of love whan he makth his remembrance,

He seith ther is the blinde god Cupide,

The which hath love under his governance,

And in his hond with many a fyri lance1706 2270

He woundeth ofte, ther he wol noght hele;

And that somdiel is cause of mi querele.1707

Ovide ek seith that love to parforne

Stant in the hond of Venus the goddesse,

Bot whan sche takth hir conseil with Satorne,

Ther is no grace, and in that time, I gesse,

Began mi love, of which myn hevynesse

Is now and evere schal, bot if I spede:

So wot I noght miself what is to rede.

[Pg 448]

Forthi to you, Cupide and Venus bothe, 2280

With al myn hertes obeissance I preie,

If ye were ate ferste time wrothe,

Whan I began to love, as I you seie,

Nou stynt, and do thilke infortune aweie,1708

So that Danger, which stant of retenue

With my ladi, his place mai remue.

P. iii. 352

O thou Cupide, god of loves lawe,

That with thi Dart brennende hast set afyre

Min herte, do that wounde be withdrawe,

Or yif me Salve such as I desire: 2290

For Service in thi Court withouten hyre

To me, which evere yit have kept thin heste,

Mai nevere be to loves lawe honeste.

O thou, gentile Venus, loves queene,1709

Withoute gult thou dost on me thi wreche;

Thou wost my peine is evere aliche grene

For love, and yit I mai it noght areche:

This wold I for my laste word beseche,1710

That thou mi love aquite as I deserve,

Or elles do me pleinly forto sterve. 2300

[Venus replies to the Supplication.]

Whanne I this Supplicacioun

With good deliberacioun,

Hic loquitur qualiter Venus, accepta Amantis Supplicacione, indilate ad singula respondit.

In such a wise as ye nou wite,

Hadde after min entente write

Unto Cupide and to Venus,

This Prest which hihte Genius

It tok on honde to presente,

On my message and forth he wente

To Venus, forto wite hire wille.

And I bod in the place stille, 2310

And was there bot a litel while,

Noght full the montance of a Mile,

Whan I behield and sodeinly

I sih wher Venus stod me by.

P. iii. 353

So as I myhte, under a tre

[Pg 449]

To grounde I fell upon mi kne,

And preide hire forto do me grace:

Sche caste hire chiere upon mi face,

And as it were halvinge a game1711

Sche axeth me what is mi name.1712 2320

‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘John Gower.’

‘Now John,’ quod sche, ‘in my pouer

Thou most as of thi love stonde;

For I thi bille have understonde,

In which to Cupide and to me

Somdiel thou hast compleigned thee,

And somdiel to Nature also.

Bot that schal stonde among you tuo,

For therof have I noght to done;

For Nature is under the Mone 2330

Maistresse of every lives kinde,

Bot if so be that sche mai finde1713

Som holy man that wol withdrawe

His kindly lust ayein hir lawe;1714

Bot sielde whanne it falleth so,

For fewe men ther ben of tho,

Bot of these othre ynowe be,

Whiche of here oghne nycete

Ayein Nature and hire office

Deliten hem in sondri vice, 2340

Wherof that sche fulofte hath pleigned,

And ek my Court it hath desdeigned1715

And evere schal; for it receiveth

Non such that kinde so deceiveth.

P. iii. 354

For al onliche of gentil love

Mi court stant alle courtz above

And takth noght into retenue

Bot thing which is to kinde due,

For elles it schal be refused.

Wherof I holde thee excused, 2350

For it is manye daies gon,

[Pg 450]

That thou amonges hem were on

Which of my court hast ben withholde;

So that the more I am beholde

Of thi desese to commune,

And to remue that fortune,

Which manye daies hath the grieved.

Bot if my conseil mai be lieved,

Thou schalt ben esed er thou go

Of thilke unsely jolif wo, 2360

Wherof thou seist thin herte is fyred:

Bot as of that thou hast desired

After the sentence of thi bille,

Thou most therof don at my wille,

And I therof me wole avise.

For be thou hol, it schal suffise:

Mi medicine is noght to sieke1716

For thee and for suche olde sieke,1717

Noght al per chance as ye it wolden,1718

Bot so as ye be reson scholden, 2370

Acordant unto loves kinde.1719

For in the plit which I thee finde,

So as mi court it hath awarded,

Thou schalt be duely rewarded;

P. iii. 355

And if thou woldest more crave,

It is no riht that thou it have.’

iii. Qui cupit id quod habere nequit, sua tempora perdit,

Est vbi non posse, velle salute caret.

Non estatis opus gelidis hirsuta capillis,

Cum calor abcessit, equiperabit hiems;

Sicut habet Mayus non dat natura Decembri,

Nec poterit compar floribus esse lutum;

Sic neque decrepita senium iuvenile voluptas

Floret in obsequium, quod Venus ipsa petit.1720

Conveniens igitur foret, vt quos cana senectus

Attigit, vlterius corpora casta colant.(10)

[Pg 451]

Venus, which stant withoute lawe

In noncertein, bot as men drawe

Hic in exemplum contra quoscunque viros inveteratos amoris concupiscenciam affectantes loquitur Venus, huiusque Amantis Confessi supplicacionem quasi deridens, ipsum pro eo quod senex et debilis est, multis exhortacionibus insufficientem redarguit.1721

Of Rageman upon the chance,

Sche leith no peis in the balance, 2380

Bot as hir lyketh forto weie;

The trewe man fulofte aweie

Sche put, which hath hir grace bede,

And set an untrewe in his stede.

Lo, thus blindly the world sche diemeth

In loves cause, as tome siemeth:1722

I not what othre men wol sein,1723

Bot I algate am so besein,

And stonde as on amonges alle

Which am out of hir grace falle: 2390

It nedeth take no witnesse,

For sche which seid is the goddesse,

To whether part of love it wende,

Hath sett me for a final ende

The point wherto that I schal holde.

For whan sche hath me wel beholde,

P. iii. 356

Halvynge of scorn, sche seide thus:

‘Thou wost wel that I am Venus,

Which al only my lustes seche;

And wel I wot, thogh thou beseche 2400

Mi love, lustes ben ther none,

Whiche I mai take in thi persone;

For loves lust and lockes hore1724

In chambre acorden neveremore,

And thogh thou feigne a yong corage,

It scheweth wel be the visage

That olde grisel is no fole:

There ben fulmanye yeres stole

With thee and with suche othre mo,1725

That outward feignen youthe so 2410

And ben withinne of pore assay.

[Pg 452]

Min herte wolde and I ne may

Is noght beloved nou adayes;

Er thou make eny suche assaies

To love, and faile upon the fet,

Betre is to make a beau retret;

For thogh thou myhtest love atteigne,

Yit were it bot an ydel peine,

Whan that thou art noght sufficant

To holde love his covenant. 2420

Forthi tak hom thin herte ayein,

That thou travaile noght in vein,

Wherof my Court may be deceived.

I wot and have it wel conceived,

Hou that thi will is good ynowh;

Bot mor behoveth to the plowh,

P. iii. 357

Wherof the lacketh, as I trowe:

So sitte it wel that thou beknowe1726

Thi fieble astat, er thou beginne

Thing wher thou miht non ende winne. 2430

What bargain scholde a man assaie,

Whan that him lacketh forto paie?

Mi Sone, if thou be wel bethoght,1727

This toucheth thee; foryet it noght:

The thing is torned into was;

That which was whilom grene gras,1728

Is welked hey at time now.1729

Forthi mi conseil is that thou

Remembre wel hou thou art old.’

[The Companies of Lovers.]

Whan Venus hath hir tale told, 2440

And I bethoght was al aboute,1730

Qualiter super derisoria Veneris exhortacione contristatus Amans, quasi mortuus in terram corruit, vbi, vt sibi videbatur, Cupidinem cum innumera multitudine nuper Amantum variis turmis assistencium conspiciebat.

Tho wiste I wel withoute doute,1731

That ther was no recoverir;

And as a man the blase of fyr

With water quencheth, so ferd I;1732

[Pg 453]

A cold me cawhte sodeinly,1733

For sorwe that myn herte made

Mi dedly face pale and fade

Becam, and swoune I fell to grounde.

And as I lay the same stounde, 2450

Ne fully quik ne fully ded,

Me thoghte I sih tofor myn hed

Cupide with his bowe bent,

And lich unto a Parlement,

Which were ordeigned for the nones,

With him cam al the world at ones

P. iii. 358

Of gentil folk that whilom were

Lovers, I sih hem alle there

Forth with Cupide in sondri routes.

Min yhe and as I caste aboutes, 2460

To knowe among hem who was who,

I sih wher lusty Youthe tho,1734

As he which was a Capitein,

Tofore alle othre upon the plein

Stod with his route wel begon,

Here hevedes kempt, and therupon

Garlandes noght of o colour,

Some of the lef, some of the flour,

And some of grete Perles were;

The newe guise of Beawme there, 2470

With sondri thinges wel devised,

I sih, wherof thei ben queintised.

It was al lust that thei with ferde,

Ther was no song that I ne herde,

Which unto love was touchende;

Of Pan and al that was likende1735

As in Pipinge of melodie

Was herd in thilke compaignie

So lowde, that on every side

It thoghte as al the hevene cride 2480

In such acord and such a soun

Of bombard and of clarion

With Cornemuse and Schallemele,

[Pg 454]

That it was half a mannes hele

So glad a noise forto hiere.

And as me thoghte, in this manere

P. iii. 359

Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance,

And do to love her entendance

After the lust of youthes heste.

Ther was ynowh of joie and feste, 2490

For evere among thei laghe and pleie,

And putten care out of the weie,

That he with hem ne sat ne stod.

And overthis I understod,

So as myn Ere it myhte areche,

The moste matiere of her speche

Was al of knyhthod and of Armes,1736

And what it is to ligge in armes

With love, whanne it is achieved.

De nominibus illorum nuper Amantum, qui tunc Amanti spasmato, aliqui iuuenes, aliqui senes, apparuerunt. Senes autem precipue tam erga deum quam deam amoris pro sanitate Amantis recuperanda multiplicatis precibus misericorditer instabant.

Ther was Tristram, which was believed 2500

With bele Ysolde, and Lancelot

Stod with Gunnore, and Galahot

With his ladi, and as me thoghte,

I syh wher Jason with him broghte

His love, which that Creusa hihte,

And Hercules, which mochel myhte,

Was ther berende his grete Mace,

And most of alle in thilke place

He peyneth him to make chiere

With Eolen, which was him diere. 2510

Theseüs, thogh he were untrewe

To love, as alle wommen knewe,

Yit was he there natheles

With Phedra, whom to love he ches:

Of Grece ek ther was Thelamon,

Which fro the king Lamenedon

P. iii. 360

At Troie his doghter refte aweie,

Eseonen, as for his preie,

Which take was whan Jason cam

Fro Colchos, and the Cite nam 2520

In vengance of the ferste hate;

That made hem after to debate,

[Pg 455]

Whan Priamus the newe toun

Hath mad. And in avisioun

Me thoghte that I sih also

Ector forth with his brethren tuo;

Himself stod with Pantaselee,

And next to him I myhte se,

Wher Paris stod with faire Eleine,

Which was his joie sovereine; 2530

And Troilus stod with Criseide,

Bot evere among, althogh he pleide,

Be semblant he was hevy chiered,

For Diomede, as him was liered,

Cleymeth to ben his parconner.

And thus full many a bacheler,

A thousend mo than I can sein,

With Yowthe I sih ther wel besein

Forth with here loves glade and blithe.

And some I sih whiche ofte sithe 2540

Compleignen hem in other wise;

Among the whiche I syh Narcise

And Piramus, that sory were.1737

The worthy Grek also was there,

Achilles, which for love deide:

Agamenon ek, as men seide,

P. iii. 361

And Menelay the king also

I syh, with many an other mo,

Which hadden be fortuned sore

In loves cause.

And overmore 2550

Of wommen in the same cas,

With hem I sih wher Dido was,

Forsake which was with Enee;

And Phillis ek I myhte see,

Whom Demephon deceived hadde;

And Adriagne hir sorwe ladde,

For Theseüs hir Soster tok

And hire unkindely forsok.

I sih ther ek among the press

Compleignende upon Hercules 2560

[Pg 456]

His ferste love Deyanire,

Which sette him afterward afyre:

Medea was there ek and pleigneth

Upon Jason, for that he feigneth,

Withoute cause and tok a newe;

Sche seide, ‘Fy on alle untrewe!’

I sih there ek Deÿdamie,

Which hadde lost the compaignie

Of Achilles, whan Diomede

To Troie him fette upon the nede. 2570

Among these othre upon the grene

I syh also the wofull queene

Cleopatras, which in a Cave1738

With Serpentz hath hirself begrave

Alquik, and so sche was totore,1739

For sorwe of that sche hadde lore

P. iii. 362

Antonye, which hir love hath be:

And forth with hire I sih Tisbee,

Which on the scharpe swerdes point

For love deide in sory point; 2580

And as myn Ere it myhte knowe,

She seide, ‘Wo worthe alle slowe!’

The pleignte of Progne and Philomene

Ther herde I what it wolde mene,

How Tereüs of his untrouthe

Undede hem bothe, and that was routhe;

And next to hem I sih Canace,

Which for Machaire hir fader grace

Hath lost, and deide in wofull plit.

And as I sih in my spirit, 2590

Me thoghte amonges othre thus

The doghter of king Priamus,

Polixena, whom Pirrus slowh,

Was there and made sorwe ynowh,

As sche which deide gulteles

For love, and yit was loveles.

And forto take the desport,

I sih there some of other port,1740

[Pg 457]

And that was Circes and Calipse,

That cowthen do the Mone eclipse, 2600

Of men and change the liknesses,

Of Artmagique Sorceresses;

Thei hielde in honde manyon,

To love wher thei wolde or non.

Bot above alle that ther were

Of wommen I sih foure there,

P. iii. 363

Whos name I herde most comended:

Be hem the Court stod al amended;

For wher thei comen in presence,

Men deden hem the reverence, 2610

As thogh they hadden be goddesses,

Of al this world or Emperesses.

And as me thoghte, an Ere I leide,

And herde hou that these othre seide,

‘Lo, these ben the foure wyves,

Whos feith was proeved in her lyves:

For in essample of alle goode

With Mariage so thei stode,

That fame, which no gret thing hydeth,

Yit in Cronique of hem abydeth.’ 2620

Penolope that on was hote,

Whom many a knyht hath loved hote,

Whil that hire lord Ulixes lay1741

Full many a yer and many a day

Upon the grete Siege of Troie:

Bot sche, which hath no worldes joie

Bot only of hire housebonde,

Whil that hir lord was out of londe,

So wel hath kept hir wommanhiede,

That al the world therof tok hiede, 2630

And nameliche of hem in Grece.

That other womman was Lucrece,

Wif to the Romain Collatin;

And sche constreigned of Tarquin

To thing which was ayein hir wille,

Sche wolde noght hirselven stille,

P. iii. 364

Bot deide only for drede of schame

[Pg 458]

In keping of hire goode name,

As sche which was on of the beste.

The thridde wif was hote Alceste, 2640

Which whanne Ametus scholde dye

Upon his grete maladye,

Sche preide unto the goddes so,

That sche receyveth al the wo

And deide hirself to yive him lif:

Lo, if this were a noble wif.1742

The ferthe wif which I ther sih,

I herde of hem that were nyh

Hou sche was cleped Alcione,

Which to Seyix hir lord al one1743 2650

And to nomo hir body kepte;

And whan sche sih him dreynt, sche lepte

Into the wawes where he swam,1744

And there a Sefoul sche becam,

And with hire wenges him bespradde

For love which to him sche hadde.1745

Lo, these foure were tho

Whiche I sih, as me thoghte tho,

Among the grete compaignie

Which Love hadde forto guye: 2660

Bot Youthe, which in special

Of Loves Court was Mareschal,

So besy was upon his lay,

That he non hiede where I lay1746

Hath take. And thanne, as I behield,

Me thoghte I sih upon the field,

P. iii. 365

Where Elde cam a softe pas

Toward Venus, ther as sche was.

With him gret compaignie he ladde,

Bot noght so manye as Youthe hadde:1747 2670

The moste part were of gret Age,

And that was sene in the visage,1748

[Pg 459]

And noght forthi, so as thei myhte,

Thei made hem yongly to the sihte:

Bot yit herde I no pipe there1749

To make noise in mannes Ere,1750

Bot the Musette I myhte knowe,

For olde men which souneth lowe,1751

With Harpe and Lute and with Citole.

The hovedance and the Carole, 2680

In such a wise as love hath bede,

A softe pas thei dance and trede;

And with the wommen otherwhile

With sobre chier among thei smyle,

For laghtre was ther non on hyh.

And natheles full wel I syh

That thei the more queinte it made

For love, in whom thei weren glade.

And there me thoghte I myhte se

The king David with Bersabee, 2690

And Salomon was noght withoute;

Passende an hundred on a route

Of wyves and of Concubines,

Juesses bothe and Sarazines,1752

To him I sih alle entendant:

I not if he was sufficant,1753

P. iii. 366

Bot natheles for al his wit

He was attached with that writ

Which love with his hond enseleth,

Fro whom non erthly man appeleth. 2700

And overthis, as for a wonder,1754

With his leon which he put under,1755

With Dalida Sampson I knew,

Whos love his strengthe al overthrew.

I syh there Aristotle also,

Whom that the queene of Grece so1756

Hath bridled, that in thilke time

[Pg 460]

Sche made him such a Silogime,

That he foryat al his logique;

Ther was non art of his Practique, 2710

Thurgh which it mihte ben excluded

That he ne was fully concluded

To love, and dede his obeissance.

And ek Virgile of aqueintance

I sih, wher he the Maiden preide,

Which was the doghter, as men seide,

Of themperour whilom of Rome;

Sortes and Plato with him come,

So dede Ovide the Poete.

I thoghte thanne how love is swete, 2720

Which hath so wise men reclamed,

And was miself the lasse aschamed,

Or forto lese or forto winne

In the meschief that I was inne:

And thus I lay in hope of grace.

And whan thei comen to the place

P. iii. 367

Wher Venus stod and I was falle,

These olde men, with o vois alle

To Venus preiden for my sake.

And sche, that myhte noght forsake 2730

So gret a clamour as was there,

Let Pite come into hire Ere;

And forth withal unto Cupide

Sche preith that he upon his side

Me wolde thurgh his grace sende

Som confort, that I myhte amende,

Upon the cas which is befalle.

And thus for me thei preiden alle

Of hem that weren olde aboute,

And ek some of the yonge route, 2740

Of gentilesse and pure trouthe

I herde hem telle it was gret routhe,

That I withouten help so ferde.

And thus me thoghte I lay and herde.

Cupido, which may hurte and hele

In loves cause, as for myn hele

[Pg 461]

[Cupid and the Lover.]

Upon the point which him was preid

Cam with Venus, wher I was leid

Hic tractat qualiter Cupido Amantis senectute confracti viscera perscrutans, ignita sue concupiscencie tela ab eo penitus extraxit, quem Venus postea absque calore percipiens, vacuum reliquit: et sic tandem prouisa Senectus, racionem inuocans, hominem interiorem per prius amore infatuatum mentis sanitati plenius restaurauit.

Swounende upon the grene gras.

And, as me thoghte, anon ther was 2750

On every side so gret presse,

That every lif began to presse,

I wot noght wel hou many score,

Suche as I spak of now tofore,

Lovers, that comen to beholde,

Bot most of hem that weren olde:

P. iii. 368

Thei stoden there at thilke tyde,

To se what ende schal betyde

Upon the cure of my sotie.

Tho myhte I hiere gret partie 2760

Spekende, and ech his oghne avis

Hath told, on that, an other this:

Bot among alle this I herde,

Thei weren wo that I so ferde,

And seiden that for no riote

An old man scholde noght assote;

For as thei tolden redely,

Ther is in him no cause why,

Bot if he wolde himself benyce;1757

So were he wel the more nyce. 2770

And thus desputen some of tho,

And some seiden nothing so,

Bot that the wylde loves rage

In mannes lif forberth non Age;

Nota.1758

Whil ther is oyle forto fyre,

The lampe is lyhtly set afyre,

And is fulhard er it be queynt,

Bot only if it be som seint,

Which god preserveth of his grace.

And thus me thoghte, in sondri place 2780

Of hem that walken up and doun

Ther was diverse opinioun:

And for a while so it laste,

Til that Cupide to the laste,

[Pg 462]

[The Fiery Dart withdrawn.]

Forth with his moder full avised,

Hath determined and devised

P. iii. 369

Unto what point he wol descende.

And al this time I was liggende

Upon the ground tofore his yhen,

And thei that my desese syhen 2790

Supposen noght I scholde live;

Bot he, which wolde thanne yive

His grace, so as it mai be,

This blinde god which mai noght se,

Hath groped til that he me fond;

And as he pitte forth his hond1759

Upon my body, wher I lay,

Me thoghte a fyri Lancegay,

Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste,

He pulleth oute, and also faste 2800

As this was do, Cupide nam

His weie, I not where he becam,

And so dede al the remenant

Which unto him was entendant,

Of hem that in Avision

I hadde a revelacion,

So as I tolde now tofore.

[The Healing of Love.]

Bot Venus wente noght therfore,

Ne Genius, whiche thilke time1760

Abiden bothe faste byme. 2810

And sche which mai the hertes bynde

In loves cause and ek unbinde,

Er I out of mi trance aros,

Venus, which hield a boiste clos,

And wolde noght I scholde deie,

Tok out mor cold than eny keie

P. iii. 370

An oignement, and in such point

Sche hath my wounded herte enoignt,

My temples and my Reins also.1761

And forth withal sche tok me tho 2820

A wonder Mirour forto holde,

[Pg 463]

In which sche bad me to beholde

And taken hiede of that I syhe;

Wherinne anon myn hertes yhe

I caste, and sih my colour fade,

Myn yhen dymme and al unglade,

Mi chiekes thinne, and al my face

With Elde I myhte se deface,

So riveled and so wo besein,

That ther was nothing full ne plein, 2830

I syh also myn heres hore.

Mi will was tho to se nomore

Outwith, for ther was no plesance;1762

And thanne into my remembrance

I drowh myn olde daies passed,

And as reson it hath compassed,

Quod status hominis Mensibus anni equiperatur.1763

I made a liknesse of miselve

Unto the sondri Monthes twelve,

Wherof the yeer in his astat

Is mad, and stant upon debat, 2840

That lich til other non acordeth.

For who the times wel recordeth,

And thanne at Marche if he beginne,

Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne,

Til Augst be passed and Septembre,

The myhty youthe he may remembre

P. iii. 371

In which the yeer hath his deduit

Of gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit,1764

Of corn and of the wyny grape.

And afterward the time is schape1765 2850

To frost, to Snow, to Wind, to Rein,

Til eft that Mars be come ayein:

The Wynter wol no Somer knowe,

The grene lef is overthrowe,

The clothed erthe is thanne bare,

Despuiled is the Somerfare,1766

[Pg 464]

That erst was hete is thanne chele.

And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,

I was out of mi swoune affraied,

Wherof I sih my wittes straied,1767 2860

And gan to clepe hem hom ayein.

And whan Resoun it herde sein

That loves rage was aweie,

He cam to me the rihte weie,

And hath remued the sotie

Of thilke unwise fantasie,

Wherof that I was wont to pleigne,

So that of thilke fyri peine

I was mad sobre and hol ynowh.

Venus behield me than and lowh, 2870

And axeth, as it were in game,

What love was. And I for schame

Ne wiste what I scholde ansuere;

And natheles I gan to swere

That be my trouthe I knew him noght;

So ferr it was out of mi thoght,

P. iii. 372

Riht as it hadde nevere be.

‘Mi goode Sone,’ tho quod sche,

‘Now at this time I lieve it wel,

So goth the fortune of my whiel; 2880

Forthi mi conseil is thou leve.’

‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘be your leve,

Ye witen wel, and so wot I,

That I am unbehovely

Your Court fro this day forth to serve:1768

And for I may no thonk deserve,

And also for I am refused,

I preie you to ben excused.

And natheles as for the laste,1769

Whil that my wittes with me laste, 2890

Touchende mi confession

I axe an absolucion

Of Genius, er that I go.’

[Pg 465]

[The Absolution.]

The Prest anon was redy tho,

And seide, ‘Sone, as of thi schrifte

Thou hast ful pardoun and foryifte;

Foryet it thou, and so wol I.’

Amans.

‘Min holi fader, grant mercy,’

Quod I to him, and to the queene1770

I fell on knes upon the grene, 2900

And tok my leve forto wende.

[Leave-taking of Venus.]

Bot sche, that wolde make an ende,

As therto which I was most able,

A Peire of Bedes blak as Sable

Sche tok and heng my necke aboute;

Upon the gaudes al withoute

P. iii. 373

Was write of gold, Por reposer.1771

‘Lo,’ thus sche seide, ‘John Gower,

Now thou art ate laste cast,

This have I for thin ese cast, 2910

That thou nomore of love sieche.

Bot my will is that thou besieche

And preie hierafter for the pes,

And that thou make a plein reles

To love, which takth litel hiede

Of olde men upon the nede,

Whan that the lustes ben aweie:

Forthi to thee nys bot o weie,

In which let reson be thi guide;

For he may sone himself misguide, 2920

That seth noght the peril tofore.

Mi Sone, be wel war therfore,

And kep the sentence of my lore

And tarie thou mi Court nomore,

Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth,1772

Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth,1773

Whiche of long time thou hast write.

For this I do thee wel to wite,

If thou thin hele wolt pourchace,

Thou miht noght make suite and chace, 2930

[Pg 466]

Wher that the game is nought pernable;1774

It were a thing unresonable,

A man to be so overseie.

Forthi tak hiede of that I seie;

For in the lawe of my comune

We be noght schape to comune,

P. iii. 374

Thiself and I, nevere after this.

Now have y seid al that ther is1775

Of love as for thi final ende:

*Adieu, for y mot fro the wende.’ 2940

P. iii. 375

And with that word al sodeinly,

[Pg 467]

Enclosid in a sterred sky,1776

Venus, which is the qweene of love,

Was take in to hire place above,

P. iii. 376

More wiste y nought wher sche becam.1777

And thus my leve of hire y nam,1778

And forth with al the same tide

Hire prest, which wolde nought abide,

P. iii. 377

Or be me lief or be me loth,

Out of my sighte forth he goth, 2950

And y was left with outen helpe.

So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe,

Bot only that y hadde lore

My time, and was sori ther fore.

P. iii. 378

And thus bewhapid in my thought,

Whan al was turnyd in to nought,

I stod amasid for a while,

And in my self y gan to smyle

Thenkende uppon the bedis blake,

And how they weren me betake, 2960

For that y schulde bidde and preie.

And whanne y sigh non othre weie

Bot only that y was refusid,

Unto the lif which y hadde usid

I thoughte nevere torne ayein:

And in this wise, soth to seyn,

Homward a softe pas y wente,

Wher that with al myn hol entente1779

[Pg 468]

Uppon the point that y am schryve

I thenke bidde whil y live.1780 2970

[The Author prays for the State of England.]

iv. Parce precor, Criste, populus quo gaudeat iste;

Anglia ne triste subeat, rex summe, resiste.

Corrige quosque status, fragiles absolue reatus;

Vnde deo gratus vigeat locus iste beatus.

He which withinne daies sevene1781

This large world forth with the hevene

Hic in anno quartodecimo Regis Ricardi orat pro statu regni, quod a diu diuisum nimia aduersitate periclitabatur.1782

Of his eternal providence

Hath mad, and thilke intelligence

In mannys soule resonable

Hath schape to be perdurable,

Wherof the man of his feture

Above alle erthli creature

Aftir the soule is immortal,

[Pg 469]

To thilke lord in special, 2980

P. iii. 379

As he which is of alle thinges

The creatour, and of the kynges

Hath the fortunes uppon honde,

His grace and mercy forto fonde

Uppon my bare knes y preie,

That he this loud in siker weie

Wol sette uppon good governance.1783

For if men takyn remembrance

What is to live in unite,1784

Ther ys no staat in his degree 2990

That noughte to desire pes,

With outen which, it is no les,

To seche and loke in to the laste,

Ther may no worldes joye laste.1785

[Evil of Division in the Land.]

Ferst forto loke the Clergie,

Hem oughte wel to justefie

Thing which belongith to here cure,

As forto praie and to procure

Oure pes toward the hevene above,

And ek to sette reste and love 3000

[Pg 470]

Among ous on this erthe hiere.

For if they wroughte in this manere

Aftir the reule of charite,

I hope that men schuldyn se

This loud amende.

And ovyr this,1786

To seche and loke how that it is1787

Touchende of the chevalerie,

Which forto loke, in som partie

Is worthi forto be comendid,

And in som part to ben amendid, 3010

P. iii. 380

That of here large retenue

The lond is ful of maintenue,

Which causith that the comune right1788

In fewe contrees stant upright.

Extorcioun, contekt, ravine1789

Withholde ben of that covyne,

Aldai men hierin gret compleignte

Of the desease, of the constreignte,

Wher of the poeple is sore oppressid:

[Pg 471]

God graunte it mote be redressid. 3020

For of knyghthode thordre wolde

That thei defende and kepe scholde

The comun right and the fraunchise1790

Of holy cherche in alle wise,

So that no wikke man it dere,

And ther fore servith scheld and spere:1791

Bot for it goth now other weie,

Oure grace goth the more aweie.

And forto lokyn ovyrmore,

Wher of the poeple pleigneth sore, 3030

Toward the lawis of oure lond,

Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bond

And with brocage is goon aweie,

So that no man can se the weie

Wher forto fynde rightwisnesse.

And if men sechin sikernesse

Uppon the lucre of marchandie,1792

Compassement and tricherie

Of singuler profit to wynne,

Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne, 3040

P. iii. 381

And namely of divisioun,

Which many a noble worthi toun

[Pg 472]

Fro welthe and fro prosperite

Hath brought to gret adversite.

So were it good to ben al on,

For mechil grace ther uppon1793

Unto the Citees schulde falle,

Which myghte availle to ous alle,

If these astatz amendid were,

So that the vertus stodyn there 3050

And that the vices were aweie:

Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie,

This londis grace schulde arise.

[The Duty of a King.]

Bot yit to loke in othre wise,1794

Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere,

Above alle othre on erthe hiere,

Which hath the loud in his balance:

To him belongith the leiance

Of Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe;

Undir his hond al is forth drawe1795 3060

The marchant and the laborer;

So stant it al in his power

Or forto spille or forto save.1796

Bot though that he such power have,

And that his myghtes ben so large,

He hath hem nought withouten charge,1797

To which that every kyng ys swore:

So were it good that he ther fore

[Pg 473]

First un to rightwisnesse entende,

Wherof that he hym self amende 3070

P. iii. 382

Toward his god and leve vice,

Which is the chief of his office;

And aftir al the remenant

He schal uppon his covenant

Governe and lede in such a wise,

So that ther be no tirandise,

Wherof that he his poeple grieve,

Or ellis may he nought achieve

That longith to his regalie.

For if a kyng wol justifie 3080

His lond and hem that beth withynne,1798

First at hym self he mot begynne,

To kepe and reule his owne astat,

That in hym self be no debat

Toward his god: for othre wise1799

Ther may non erthly kyng suffise

Of his kyngdom the folk to lede,

Bot he the kyng of hevene drede.

For what kyng sett hym uppon pride

And takth his lust on every side 3090

And wil nought go the righte weie,

Though god his grace caste aweie

No wondir is, for ate laste

He schal wel wite it mai nought laste,1800

The pompe which he secheth here.

[Pg 474]

Bot what kyng that with humble chere

Aftir the lawe of god eschuieth

The vices, and the vertus suieth,1801

His grace schal be suffisant

To governe al the remenant 3100

P. iii. 383

Which longith to his duite;

So that in his prosperite

The poeple schal nought ben oppressid,

Wherof his name schal be blessid,

For evere and be memorial.

[The Book completed.]

And now to speke as in final,

Touchende that y undirtok

Hic in fine recapitulat super hoc quod in principio libri primi promisit se in amoris causa specialius tractaturum. Concludit enim quod omnis amoris delectacio extra caritatem nichil est. Qui autem manet in caritate, in deo manet.

In englesch forto make a book

[Pg 475]

Which stant betwene ernest and game,

I have it maad as thilke same 3110

Which axe forto ben excusid,

And that my bok be nought refusid

Of lered men, whan thei it se,1802

For lak of curiosite:

For thilke scole of eloquence

Belongith nought to my science,

Uppon the forme of rethoriqe

My wordis forto peinte and pike,

As Tullius som tyme wrot.

Bot this y knowe and this y wot, 3120

That y have do my trewe peyne

With rude wordis and with pleyne,

In al that evere y couthe and myghte,

This bok to write as y behighte,

So as siknesse it soffre wolde;

And also for my daies olde,

[Pg 476]

That y am feble and impotent,

I wot nought how the world ys went.

So preye y to my lordis alle

Now in myn age, how so befalle, 3130

P. iii. 384

That y mot stonden in here grace:1803

For though me lacke to purchace

Here worthi thonk as by decerte,

Yit the symplesse of my poverte

Desireth forto do plesance

To hem undir whos governance

I hope siker to abide.

[Farewell to Earthly Love.]

But now uppon my laste tide

That y this book have maad and write,

My muse doth me forto wite, 3140

And seith it schal be for my beste

Fro this day forth to take reste,

That y nomore of love make,

[Pg 477]

Which many an herte hath overtake,

And ovyrturnyd as the blynde

Fro reson in to lawe of kynde;

Wher as the wisdom goth aweie1804

And can nought se the ryhte weie

How to governe his oghne estat,

Bot everydai stant in debat1805 3150

Withinne him self, and can nought leve.

And thus forthy my final leve

I take now for evere more,

Withoute makynge any more,

Of love and of his dedly hele,

Which no phisicien can hele.

For his nature is so divers,

That it hath evere som travers

Or of to moche or of to lite,

That pleinly mai noman delite,1806 3160

P. iii. 385

Bot if him faile or that or this.

Bot thilke love which that is

Withinne a mannes herte affermed,

And stant of charite confermed,

[Pg 478]

[Heavenly Love.]

Such love is goodly forto have,

Such love mai the bodi save,

Such love mai the soule amende,

The hyhe god such love ous sende

Forthwith the remenant of grace;1807

So that above in thilke place 3170

Wher resteth love and alle pes,

Oure joie mai ben endeles.

Explicit iste liber, qui transeat, obsecro liber

Vt sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore.

Qui sedet in scannis celi det vt ista Iohannis

Perpetuis annis stet pagina grata Britannis.

Derbeie Comiti, recolunt quem laude periti,1808

Vade liber purus, sub eo requiesce futurus.1809

*Adieu, for I mot fro the wende.

And gret wel Chaucer whan ye mete,18102941*

As mi disciple and mi poete:

For in the floures of his youthe

In sondri wise, as he wel couthe,

Of Ditees and of songes glade,

The whiche he for mi sake made,

The loud fulfild is overal:

Wherof to him in special

Above alle othre I am most holde.1811

For thi now in hise daies olde2950*

Thow schalt him telle this message,

That he upon his latere age,

To sette an ende of alle his werk,1812

As he which is myn owne clerk,

Do make his testament of love,

As thou hast do thi schrifte above,

So that mi Court it mai recorde.’

‘Madame, I can me wel acorde,’

Quod I, ‘to telle as ye me bidde.’

And with that word it so betidde,18132960*

Out of my sihte al sodeynly,1814

Enclosed in a sterred sky,

Up to the hevene Venus straghte,1815

And I my rihte weie cawhte,1816

Hom fro the wode and forth I wente,1817

Wher as with al myn hole entente,1818

Thus with mi bedes upon honde,1819

For hem that trewe love fonde

I thenke bidde whil I lyve

Upon the poynt which I am schryve.2970*

[The Author prays for the King.]

iv.* Ad laudem Cristi, quem tu, virgo, peperisti,

Sit laus Ricardi, quem sceptra colunt leopardi.

Ad sua precepta compleui carmina cepta,

Que Bruti nata legat Anglia perpetuata.1820

He which withinne dayes sevene

This large world forth with the hevene

Hic in fine libri honorificos que virtuosos illustrissimi Principis domini sui Regis Anglie Ricardi secundi mores, sicut dignum est, laude commendabili describens, pro eiusdem status salubri conseruacione cunctipotentem deuocius exorat.

Of his eternal providence

Hath mad, and thilke intelligence1821

In mannes soule resonable

Enspired to himself semblable,

Wherof the man of his feture

Above alle erthly creature1822

After the soule is immortal,

To thilke lord in special,2980*

As he which is of alle thinges

The creatour, and of the kinges

Hath the fortunes upon honde,1823

His grace and mercy forto fonde

Upon mi bare knees I preye,

That he my worthi king conveye,

Richard by name the Secounde,1824

In whom hath evere yit be founde1825

Justice medled with pite,

Largesce forth with charite.2990*

In his persone it mai be schewed

What is a king to be wel thewed,

Touchinge of pite namely:

[The King commended.]

For he yit nevere unpitously

Ayein the liges of his lond,1826

For no defaute which he fond,

Thurgh cruelte vengaunce soghte;

And thogh the worldes chaunce in broghte1827

Of infortune gret debat,

Yit was he not infortunat:3000*

For he which the fortune ladde,

The hihe god, him overspradde

Of his Justice, and kepte him so,1828

That his astat stood evere mo

Sauf, as it oghte wel to be;1829

Lich to the Sonne in his degree,

Which with the clowdes up alofte

Is derked and bischadewed ofte,1830

But hou so that it trowble in their,1831

The Sonne is evere briht and feir,3010*

Withinne himself and noght empeired:1832

Althogh the weder be despeired,

The hed planete is not to wite.1833

Mi worthi prince, of whom I write,

Thus slant he with himselve clier,1834

And doth what lith in his power1835

Not only hier at hom to seke1836

Love and acord, but outward eke,1837

As he that save his poeple wolde.

So ben we alle wel beholde18383020*

To do service and obeyssaunce

To him, which of his heyh suffraunce1839

Hath many a gret debat appesed,1840

To make his lige men ben esed;1841

Wherfore that his Croniqe schal

For evere be memorial

To the loenge of that he doth.1842

For this wot every man in soth,

What king that so desireth pes,1843

He takth the weie which Crist ches:3030*

And who that Cristes weies sueth,

It proveth wel that he eschueth

The vices and is vertuous,1844

Wherof he mot be gracious

Toward his god and acceptable.

And so to make his regne stable,1845

With al the wil that I mai yive

I preie and schal whil that I live,

As I which in subjeccioun

Stonde under the proteccioun,18463040*

And mai miselven not bewelde,1847

What for seknesse and what for elde,1848

Which I receyve of goddes grace.

But thogh me lacke to purchace

[The Author presents his Book to the King.]

Mi kinges thonk as by decerte,1849

Yit the Simplesce of mi poverte

Unto the love of my ligance

Desireth forto do plesance:

And for this cause in myn entente

This povere bok heer I presente18503050*

Unto his hihe worthinesse,

Write of my simple besinesse,1851

So as seknesse it suffre wolde.1852

And in such wise as I ferst tolde,

Whan I this bok began to make,1853

In som partie it mai be take1854

As for to lawhe and forto pleye;

And forto loke in other weye,1855

It mai be wisdom to the wise:

So that somdel for good aprise18563060*

And eek somdel for lust and game1857

I have it mad, as thilke same1858

Which axe forto ben excused,1859

That I no Rethoriqe have used

Upon the forme of eloquence,

For that is not of mi science;

But I have do my trewe peyne

With rude wordes and with pleyne

To speke of thing which I have told.1860

[Farewell to Earthly Love.]

But now that I am feble and old,18613070*

And to the worschipe of mi king

In love above alle other thing1862

That I this bok have mad and write,1863

Mi Muse doth me forto wite1864

That it is to me for the beste

Fro this day forth to take reste,1865

That I nomore of love make.1866

But he which hath of love his make1867

It sit him wel to singe and daunce,1868

And do to love his entendance3080*

In songes bothe and in seyinges

After the lust of his pleyinges,

For he hath that he wolde have:

But where a man schal love crave1869

And faile, it stant al otherwise.1870

In his proverbe seith the wise,

Whan game is best, is best to leve:1871

And thus forthi my fynal leve,

With oute makyng eny more,1872

I take now for evere more3090*

Of love and of his dedly hele,1873

Which no phisicien can hele.

For his nature is so divers,

That it hath evere som travers

Or of to moche or of to lite,

That fully mai noman delyte,

But if him lacke or that or this.1874

But thilke love which that is

Withinne a mannes herte affermed,

[Heavenly Love.]

And stant of charite confermed,3100*

That love is of no repentaile;

For it ne berth no contretaile,

Which mai the conscience charge,

But it is rather of descharge,1875

And meedful heer and overal.

Forthi this love in special1876

Is good for every man to holde,1877

And who that resoun wol beholde,1878

Al other lust is good to daunte:

Which thing the hihe god us graunte18793110*

Forth with the remenant of grace

So that of hevene in thilke place

Wher resteth love and alle pes,1880

Oure joye mai ben endeles.1881

[Pg 479]

FOOTNOTES:

1454 13 the om. AM ... B₂, AdBTΔΛ, W

1455 37 wiste AJ, F wist C, B

1456 48 his A

1457 60 Cham AJ Chaym (Caym) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, W

1458 71 Cham AJM Chaym (Caym) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, W

1459 72 Delbora H₁ ... B₂ (Debora E), Δ, W

1460 77 into A, FW vnto CLB₂, B

1461 79 the om. A

1462 98 Habraham J, FK rest Abraham

1463 100 was þo AML

1464 136 tribus MH₁CB₂, TΔ, W Irahel (Irael) J, FK rest Israel

1465 145 bode H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

1466 148 it om. GC, BΔ

1467 170 in such AdBTΔ

1468 177 I myhte AM

1469 185 The AM, W

1470 188 such AJ, B suche F

1471 210 margin impune om. BT, W inpunitum E

1472 212 margin priuauit] preliauit H₁ ... B₂

1473 205 so om. AdBT

1474 228 vnto MCL, BT

1475 231 and made] he made AM ... B₂, AdTB

1476 237 gret AC, B grete F

1477 239 not (nought) goode AM ... B₂, AdBT

1478 245 Irahel as in l. 136

1479 257 And þat AdBT

1480 262 ago AM ... B₂, AdBTΔ

1481 280 margin ipse prius FK, om. A ... B₂, BT (Lat. om. AdΔ, W)

1482 291 chambre (chamber) MH₁XEC, AdBTΔ, WK

1483 293 and] of AM ... B₂, AdBT

1484 298 The king H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

1485 310 which om. B

1486 337 S resumes

1487 354 the om. AdBT, W

1488 355 how þat H₁ ... B₂, AdB

1489 358 soghte (soughte) A ... CB₂, SAdTB (In al wise he him be þowt Δ)

1490 362 that om. BTΔ, W

1491 371 þis wise EB₂, BΔ

1492 403 sturne F sterne A, SB lok] word B

1493 416 of of F

1494 419 this] þat AdBT the B₂

1495 428 margin Indignacio—Appolini om. SΔ (as also the marginal notes following down to l. 1020)

1496 443 his om. B

1497 446 esmaied JEC, S, FK amaied (amayed) AMH₁XGRLB₂, AdBT dismaied Δ, W

1498 462 tyde AMX, W

1499 467 margin mare om.

1500 F as evere he] as he H₁ ... B₂, Ad as þey BT

1501 469 In] Her(e) AdBTΛ be] ben wiþ AdBTΔΛ, W

1502 471 hale up] haleþ AM ... B₂, AdBTΛ

1503 483 deelful (deleful) AML, W deedful (dedful) H₁ ... CB₂, AdTΛ dedly B

1504 492 stonden B₂, AdBTΔ, WK

1505 496 margin Nota om. A ... B₂, BT (Lat. om. SAdΔ)

1506 505 Taliart F Thaliart AJ, SB

1507 507 box AM ... B₂, AdBT

1508 510 spare he FK rest spare

1509 513 Taliart J, F Thaliart A, SB

1510 535 He] His F

1511 539 which B

1512 548 him H₁, AdBT

1513 553 whan (when) AJC, B whanne S, F

1514 565 the om. AMH₁XRL, Ad a B

1515 566 him FWK it ACLB₂, B

1516 568 So as] So þat AM ... B₂ (So as G)

1517 573 margin prenunciauit B preminuit M

1518 571 a route AM ... B₂, AdBT

1519 574 the which on knees] which on his knees E, B which on knees H₁XRLB₂, AdTΔ

1520 582 no] for no H₁E ... B₂

1521 590 As in telling(e) AM, AdT ffor as in telling(e) H₁ ... B₂

1522 598 ygon B

1523 620 avou (avow) A, B, F a vow (a vou) J, S, K

1524 624 altobroke A, S, F al tobroke C, B al to broke J

1525 633 Therof (Ther of) A ... B₂, AdBT Wherefore W

1526 635 a om. AMR

1527 636 was whilom AM ... B₂, AdBT was som tyme J

1528 667 Than (Thanne) AM ... B₂, AdBT afterward B

1529 677 As was herd AdBT

1530 680 game MH₁, AdBTΔ, W gamis X

1531 685 As] And AM ... B₂, AdBT tho] þe H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, WK om. Δ

1532 697 margin aula A ... B₂, BT

1533 705 schulde (scholde) AdBT, W

1534 714 his Mareschal of h. J, S, FK his Marchal of his h. AM ... CB₂, BT his marschal of the h. Δ, W þe Marchal of his h. Ad (ll. 704-714 om. L)

1535 718 hadde B

1536 732 margin maxime ingemiscebat A ... B₂, BT (Latin om. SAdΔ)

1537 747 of þis worldes aghte J, SΔ, FWK þer of (þerof) which I aughte AM ... B₂, AdBT

1538 748 I þer(e) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

1539 772 taakþ (takeþ) AM

1540 782 he] it AM ... B₂, AdBT

1541 786 hou that] of þat AH₁ ... B₂, AdBT þat M howe W

1542 787 he was] it was H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

1543 809 that] þe H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

1544 817 he scholde AdB

1545 827 Hire] He AdBT

1546 829 of Citole] citole B and citole K

1547 830 tun] time X, B

1548 839 wolde AdBT

1549 845 Touching(e) AM ... B₂, AdBTΛ

1550 852 may so AMR

1551 856 and in game] what in game ME, B and what in game CLB₂, AdT

1552 859 and drinke MCL, BT of drinkyng W

1553 860 that om. AMH₁

1554 872 hir(e) honour AJH₁ ... L, AdBT

1555 875 to make AdBT

1556 892 put AJ, S, F putte C, B

1557 928 þe worldes A ... B₂, AdT

1558 946 fadres (faders) AM ... B₂ (except E), AdΔ

1559 950 Paragraph here F ther] al (alle) AM ... B₂, AdBT

1560 958 which was] þat was W was Ad was riht AM ... B₂, BT

1561 961 and gret AMH₁E ... B₂, BT and of gret X

1562 962 many man AH₁EC, AdBT many men X

1563 970 lede B

1564 975 spousales FK

1565 979 adai (aday) J, F a dai (a day) AC, SB

1566 994 was FWK is A ... B₂, S ... Δ

1567 1000 forto smyte AM

1568 1009 liuen in AH₁ ... B₂, AdBTΔ

1569 1024 lengerr F

1570 1047 here (her) AC, SB hire J, F

1571 1056 deide AdBT

1572 1060 a swoune JC, SB, F aswoune A

1573 1063 and my desir AdBT, W and desir J

1574 1069 it myhte FWK

1575 1076 For evere] Was euer(e) AH₁ ... B₂, AdBT Was neuere M

1576 1098 Latin here and at 1122, 1141, 1151, 1324, 1373, 1424 om. SΔ (up to 2029 om. Δ)

1577 1102 margin obtusa que C, B obtusaque A, F

1578 1106 marg. in mari A ... B₂, BT

1579 1107 þis AdBT

1580 1110 sich (siche, swiche) AJMRB₂, BΔ, W such(suche) H₁XECL, SAdT, FK

1581 1120 of jeueals a] of Ieweles (Iewels) AM ... B₂, AdBT of the Ieweles a W

1582 1128 tak AJ, S, F take C, B

1583 1131 whan (when) AJ, SB whanne F

1584 1142 This prince AJM, SΔ

1585 1156 margin suum om. A ... B₂, BT

1586 1168 the] þis BΔ, W

1587 1178 was iwounde (I wounde &c.) AM ... L was I bounde B₂ lay ywounde AdBT

1588 1184 which ... is] þat ... was AM ... B₂, AdBT

1589 1206 Ha om. MXR, AdBT, W

1590 1222 hol (hool) C, B, F hole AB₂

1591 1224 margin sacro] facto BT

1592 1240 sih] seiþ AML

1593 1252 line om. B

1594 1253 schal] haþ AdBT

1595 1258 took(e) LB₂ AdBT, W

1596 1260 made AH₁ ... B₂, AdBT

1597 1274 seiled AdBT

1598 1277 And FW Tho ACLB₂, B

1599 1293 whiche A, S, F which JC, B

1600 1315 And parceiuen þat it B

1601 1319 þe FW his ACLB₂, B

1602 1334 worþe J, F worþ AC, SB

1603 1364 wher þat AM ... B₂, AdBT, W

1604 1371 swer(e) E ... B₂, K sware X

1605 1373 margin occideret A ... B₂, BT

1606 1374 cherlissh (cherlische &c.) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, K

1607 1375 wher(e) H₁ ... B₂, AdBTΔ, W

1608 1378 margin Pirate ibidem prope] Pirate ibidem A ... B₂ ibidem BT

1609 1383 margin reddiderunt AM

1610 1388 þat sche AM ... B₂, AdBT

1611 1389 and þis cry A

1612 1399 thei] sche B

1613 1413 fecchen (fechen) AM ... B₂, AdB sechen T

1614 1415 hir] he AM ... B₂, AdBT1

1615 1416 And þat he by (be) H₁ ... B₂ And þat by AM

1616 1423 Paragraph here in MSS.

1617 1424 No wonder þough sche were wo B No wonder þogh sche be wo Ad

1618 1435 nomen wolde þer noght come K nomen wolden þeer (þer) come AM no man (noman) wolde þer(e) come H₁ ... B₂, AdBT mo men wolde ther none come W

1619 1447 kneled BTΔ

1620 1450 good BT

1621 1456 be of rel. AM ... B₂, BT

1622 1465 Which þat AM ... B₂, BT

1623 1476 fro] of AM ... B₂, BT

1624 1484 eny AM ... B₂, B

1625 1503 margin configentes F

1626 1500 Theophile AJC, T, F Theophil B

1627 1505 ich haue AM

1628 1509 kepeþ BT

1629 1512 Now se her after B Now hiere after T

1630 1513 sorweth] crieþ BT

1631 1523 make BT om. W

1632 1534 the om. AM, Δ, W

1633 1544 forto clare] to declare AM ... B₂, BT

1634 1555 told A, B, F tolde C

1635 1593 margin celebrari A ... B₂, BT, W

1636 1590 Paragraph here FWK, at 1595 in most other copies

1637 1621 þat cite H₁XELB₂, BT

1638 1633 be] were B

1639 1637 which a s. AM ... B₂, AdBT

1640 1641 so] þe AM

1641 1646 here LB₂, Δ, W

1642 1649 Paragraph here ALB₂, BT at 1652 J, SAd, FW Tho] Thus A ... B₂

1643 1661 all(e) þe weies AM ... B₂, AdBT

1644 1683 many F many a ALB₂, B, W

1645 1687 madd man S madd mad man F

1646 1710 hol B, F hole AB₂

1647 1713 was FW is ALB₂, B

1648 1715 that om. AM, W

1649 1732 toke J, S, F tok (took) AEC, B

1650 1750 þat lond AJM, SΔ

1651 1754 maiden] doughter B

1652 1756 which was þo h. AM

1653 1761 of yong] ȝong of E, B

1654 1790 þe king JC

1655 1792 vnto H₁ ... B₂, AdB, W

1656 1836 he in F in he A ... B₂, S ... Δ, WK

1657 1842 euidence AdBT

1658 1843 thanne aboute] al (alle) aboute AM ... B₂, AdT þer aboute B

1659 1854 aswowe AM aswowen B

1660 1861 That] Which AM ... B₂, AdBT

1661 1877 þe queene AM ... B₂, AdBT

1662 1890 topseil(e) cole H₁ ... B₂, AdBTΔ, W

1663 1892 havene] haue C, AdBT, W þe hauen B₂

1664 1911 what he w. X ... B₂, AdBT

1665 1912 ff. margin Qualiter—fecit om. BΔ

1666 1920 lord B

1667 1921 thanne] þat AM ... B₂, AdBT

1668 1924 Wher of (Wherof) H₁ ... B₂, AdBT, W

1669 1927 And FW A ACLB₂, B

1670 1928 Up to] Vpon AM ... B₂, AdBT

1671 1931 on honde AM ... B₂, AdBT, W

1672 1939 he herde AM, W

1673 1940 wiste(n) how it AM ... B₂, AdBT, W

1674 1967 In which AM ... B₂, AdBT

1675 1973 wil (wol) conceyue H₁EL, W wol(e) resceyue AdBT

1676 1978 is befalle AdB, W was falle L

1677 1992 was him AM, Δ, W

1678 1999 his lif was write A ... B₂, S ... Δ as it is write FWK

1679 2006 he hadde al] he hadde J, SΔ (had) hadde (had) AM ... B₂, AdBT

1680 2009 margin Confessor ad Amantem om. JEC, AdBT Confessor B₂, Δ, W

1681 2047 skile] sike AdBT

1682 2056 let S, F lete AJ, B

1683 2062 truffles AJC, S, F trifles (triffles) L, B travailes W

1684 2071 Conseile J, S, F Conseil (Counseil) AC, B

1685 2073 Thi (þy) cause A ... B₂, S ... Δ where] þer B

1686 2086 noght faile] auaile AM ... B₂, AdBT (line om. R)

1687 2095 sett] siþe (siþ, seþþe &c.) JH₁ERLB₂, AdBT, W sertein if Δ

1688 2098 it is H₁, FK is it AJMX ... B₂, S ... Δ, W

1689 2104 This BT Thi Ad And W

1690 2106 so be befalle F

1691 2134 set AJ, S, F sette CLB₂, B

1692 2138 agon (a goon) H₁RCB₂, AdBT, W

1693 2153 That feelen noght of þat (om. I fiele) A That feelen noght. be likned to þe herte M

1694 2178 while AM ... B₂, AdBT, W

1695 2179 no certein AdBT the] þo AM

1696 2180 if] wher AM ... B₂, AdBT

1697 2195 techinge J, SΔ, FWK touchynge (touching) AM ... B₂, AdBTΛ

1698 2203 þei (þey) acorden AdBT

1699 2214 wol(e) AdBT

1700 2220 or I trauaile J, S, F the rest or trauaile

1701 2228 a love] of loue AM ... B₂, BT (Haþ love of kinde ȝit Ad)

1702 2240 was] is AdBT

1703 2247 þurghout BT

1704 2251 ȝelpe AdBTΛ

1705 2257 I fynde BTΔ

1706 2270 his om. B

1707 2271 wher AdBT

1708 2284 þis infortune AdBT þilke fortune B₂, Δ that ilke infortune W

1709 2294 gentile AJ, S, F gentil C, B

1710 2298 wold J, S, F wolde AC, B

1711 2319 agame AJMRL, AdT in game Δ in grame W

1712 2320 is] was A ... B₂, SBTΔ

1713 2332 if] it AMXE ... B₂, B

1714 2334 Hire B

1715 2342 disteigned AH₁XRLB₂ distreigned M restreigned E

1716 2367 f. Two lines om. S ... Δ (ins. Λ)

1717 2368 The which is holsom to þe seke H₁ ... B₂

1718 2369 f.

Noght al as þou desire woldest

Bot so as þou be resoun scholdest

S ... Δ

1719 2371-2376 Six lines om. S ... Δ

1720 Latin Verses iii. 8 obsequium] obsessum X ... L obessum B₂

1721 2379 ff. margin Hic in exemplum—redarguit] Hic narrat qualiter indignata Venus, amantis languidi infirmitatem inspiciens, ne quid amplius in curia sua attemptare presumat, ipsum insufficientem tanquam pro medicina pluribus exemplis exhortabatur S ... ΔΛ

1722 2386 tome S, F to me AJC, B

1723 2387 wolde H₁ ... B₂, AdBT

1724 2403 Mi loues AM, Λ My loue AdBT (Ad ends with this line)

1725 2409 with om. AM ... B₂, BT

1726 2428 sitte AJC, F sit B

1727 2433 if þat þou wel beþought (be þought) X ... B₂, BTΛ if that thou wel the be thouht H₁

1728 2436 The which AM ... B₂, BTΛ (þat whilom was þe grene gras Δ)

1729 2437 as time now AM ... B₂, BTΛ

1730 2441 Than I AM, BΛ Whan I H₁ ... B₂, T

1731 2442 And wist(e) wel AM ... B₂, BTΛ

1732 2445 ferd AJ, S, F ferde C, B

1733 2446 And cold AM

1734 2462 line om. B

1735 2476 margin Pan id est deus nature A ... B₂

1736 2497 It was AM ... B₂, BT

1737 2543 Priamus AM, B, W

1738 2573 graue BT

1739 2575 Alquik F Al quik AJ, SB, K

1740 2598 þere F þer (þer) AJC, B

1741 2623 Vluxes BT

1742 2646 Lo, if] See wher AM ... B₂, BT

1743 2650 Which Ceix (om. to) B Which to seke X Which for to se W

1744 2653 wawe A ... B₂, S ... Δ

1745 2656 which] þat AM ... B₂, BT

1746 2664 he lay X, BT (line om. Δ p. m.)

1747 2670 manye] fele AM ... B₂, BT

1748 2672 here visage AM ... B₂, BT

1749 2675 pipes AM ... B₂, BT piper Δ

1750 2676 noise] merþe AM ... B₂, BT

1751 2678 sowned AM ... B₂, BT

1752 2694 Iuesses eek AM Iues boþe (Iewes both) KW Iewes (Iues &c.) eek H₁ ... B₂, BT

1753 2696 wher he was AM wher(e) he were X ... B₂, BT if he were H₁, W

1754 2701 no wonder B

1755 2702 put AJ, F putte C, B

1756 2706 so] also E, BT þo Δ

1757 2769 benyce J, S, FK be nyce (by nice &c.) AM ... B₂, BTΔ, W

1758 2775 margin Nota LB₂, F Nota bene C om. A ... R, SBTΔ, WK

1759 2796 pitte F putte AJC, SB

1760 2809 whiche S, F which AJC, B

1761 2819 margin Nota contra senes voluptuosos, quorum calor refrigescente natura extinctus est SBTΔ (om. Λ)

1762 2833 Outwiþ SΔ, FWK Out wiþ AJM, TΛ Therwiþ (Ther wiþ) H₁ ... B₂ On which B

1763 2837 margin equiperatur A equipatur C, BT, F

1764 2848 of flour of lef AM ... CB₂ and floure of leef L

1765 2850 þis time H₁ ... B₂

1766 2856 Somerfare S, F somer fare AJC, B

1767 2860 straied] frayed AM ... B₂

1768 2885 forth] for EC, BTΛ

1769 2889 for to laste BT

1770 2899 the om. AM

1771 2907 pur AM ... B₂, B, W pour H₁, T

1772 2925 moral vertu AM ... B₂, W vertu morar S

1773 2926 Wher ben þe M, TΛ Ther ben þe B

1774 2931 pernable J, SΔ, FK parnable W prouable (prouable) AM ... B₂, BTΛ

1775 2938 Here begins a new hand in F and ll. 2938-2966 are over an erasure.

1776 2942 serred S

1777 2945 wiste ST wist B, F

1778 2946 hire (hir) BTΔ, WK here S, F

1779 2968 hol B, F hole S

1780 2970 lieue F

1781 2971 The J, B

1782 2973 ff. margin Hic in anno—periclitabatur SΔ, FK om. BTΛ, W

1783 2987 Wol] Wel S

1784 2989 liue BTΔ, W lieue S, FK

1785 2994 wordles F

1786 3005 f. Paragraph begins And ouer þis S To seche FWK No Paragraph BT

1787 3006 how þat is B howe it is W

1788 3013 comune (commune) SBT, F comyn W

1789 3015 contekt FK contect SBT Contek W contek and Magd contel and Δ

1790 3023 comun B, F comune ST

1791 3026 þer fore (þerfore) FK þerof (þer of) SBTΔ, W

1792 3037 machandie F merchandie S

1793 3046 mechil F mekull W mochil SBT

1794 3054 oþre wise S, F oþer w. BTΔ, WK

1795 3060 is al B

1796 3063 forto ... forto S for to ... forto F for to ... for to BT

1797 3066 wiþouten F wiþoute SBT

1798 3081 beþ F ben (be) SBTΔ, WK

1799 3085 oþre wise F oþrewise S oþerwise BT othir wyse W

1800 3094 nouȝt F noght S nought B not T, W

1801 3098 vertu B

1802 3113 whanne F

1803 3131 mot ST, W mote B, F

1804 3147 Hand in F changes again

1805 3150 euerydai F euery day SBT

1806 3160 noman F no man SBT

1807 3169 fforþwiþ F fforþ wiþ SBT

1808 Explicit 5 f. Last two lines om. AJCL

1809 6 sub eo que recumbe S

1810 2941* ff. This conclusion is in first recension copies only, A ... B₂ &c. But ll. 2941*-2961* also in Λ. All variations from A are noted.

1811 2949* moost A

1812 2953* eende A al J

1813 2960* world AMX betidde (bitidde) JH₁ECB₂ by tydde (be tidde) AMRL

1814 2961* sihte (sighte) JR syht (sight) AMH₁ECLB₂

1815 2963* f. straghte: cawhte AM strauhte: cauhte J straght(e): caght(e) RL straughte: caughte EC

1816 2964* righte (rihte) JEC riht (right) AMH₁R

1817 2965* Hoom AM and om. C

1818 2966* hole J hoole AM

1819 2967* f. hoonde: foonde AM

1820 Latin Verses iv.* 3 ceptra AM

1821 2974* mad J maad A

1822 2978* erþly C eerþli AM erþely JH₁ERLB₂

1823 2983* f. hoonde: foonde AM

1824 2987* be J

1825 2988* byfounde A by founde M

1826 2995* f. loond: foond A

1827 2998* inbroughte JH₁

1828 3003* kepte ECB₂ kept AJMH₁RL

1829 3005* bee A

1830 3008* bischadewed (byshadewed) AMH₁E by schadewed (by schadowed) RCLB₂ beschaded J

1831 3009* Bot JH₁

1832 3011* Wiþin AM

1833 3013* hed (hede) JM heed A heued H₁E ... B₂

1834 3015* f. clier: power J cleer: poweer A

1835 3016* dooþ AM

1836 3017* only hier at hom to seke J oonly heer athoom to seeke A

1837 3018* acord JER acorde AC eeke AEC

1838 3020* been AMC by holde AM

1839 3022* hihe H₁RLB₂ hie J

1840 3023* a gret (agret) JCL a grete (agrete) AMH₁ &c.

1841 3024* been A

1842 3037* f. dooþ: sooþ AMR

1843 3029* f. pees: chees AMR

1844 3033* f. vertuows: graciows AM

1845 3036* And for to CB₂ maake A

1846 3040* Stoonde AM the] his J

1847 3041* by welde AMH₁

1848 3042* sekenesse AMH₁R

1849 3045* be J

1850 3050* bok J book AC

1851 3052* besinesse (besynesse) JH₁RL bisinesse A busynesse C

1852 3053* seeknesse (seknesse) JC seekenesse (sekenesse &c.) AMH₁R

1853 3055* book by gan to maake A

1854 3056* by taake A

1855 3058* looke A ooþer AM

1856 3060* f. somdeel A

1857 3061* of game J

1858 3062* as AJM for H₁XRCLB₂

1859 3063* been A

1860 3069* f. toold: oold A

1861 3070* Bot J

1862 3072* ooþer A

1863 3073* book A &c.

1864 3074* dooþ AM

1865 3076* taake A

1866 3077* nomoore of loue maake A

1867 3078* Bot J maake A

1868 3079* sit J sitte AMRCLB₂

1869 3084* Bot J

1870 3085* alooþerwise A

1871 3087* Whan game is beste A

1872 3089* f. moore: moore A

1873 3091* f. heele: heele AM

1874 3097* f. Bot J

1875 3104* Bot J

1876 3106* love om. AM

1877 3107* hoolde A

1878 3108* wol byholde (biholde) ARCL wil biholde B₂ wel be holde J wel byholde M

1879 3110* ous J

1880 3113* pees AMC

1881 3114* been endelees AM At the end Amen MXERCLB₂

1882Epistola super huius opusculi sui complementum Iohanni Gower a quodam philosopho transmissa.

Quam cinxere freta, Gower, tua carmina leta

Per loca discreta canit Anglia laude repleta.

Carminis Athleta, satirus, tibi, siue Poeta,

Sit laus completa quo gloria stat sine meta.

1883Quia1884 vnusquisque, prout a deo accepit, aliis impartiri tenetur, Iohannes Gower super hiis que deus sibi sensualiter1885 donauit villicacionis sue racionem, dum tempus instat,1886 secundum aliquid alleuiare cupiens,1887inter labores et ocia ad aliorum noticiam tres libros doctrine causa forma subsequenti propterea composuit.

[Pg 480]

Primus liber Gallico sermone editus in decem diuiditur partes, et tractans de viciis et virtutibus,1888 necnon et de variis huius seculi gradibus,1889viam qua peccator transgressus ad sui creatoris agnicionem redire debet, recto tramite docere conatur. Titulusque1890 libelli istius Speculum Meditantis1891 nuncupatus est.

1892Secundus enim liber sermone latino metrice compositus tractat de variis infortuniis tempore Regis Ricardi Secundi in Anglia contingentibus. Vnde non solum regni proceres et communes tormenta passi sunt, set et ipse crudelissimus rex suis ex demeritis ab alto corruens in foueam quam fecit finaliter proiectus est. Nomenque voluminis huius Vox Clamantis intitulatur.

1893Tercius iste liber qui ob reuerenciam strenuissimi domini sui domini Henrici de Lancastria, tunc Derbeie Comitis, Anglico sermone conficitur, secundum Danielis propheciam super huius mundi regnorum mutacione a tempore regis Nabugodonosor vsque1894 nunc tempora distinguit.1895 Tractat eciam secundum Aristotilem1896 super hiis quibus rex Alexander tam in sui regimen1897 quam aliter1898eius disciplina edoctus fuit. Principalis tamen huius operis1899 materia1900 super amorem et infatuatas amantum passiones fundamentum habet. Nomenque sibi appropriatum Confessio Amantis specialiter1901 sortitus est.

FOOTNOTES:

1882 Epistola huius operis sui AJECL huius operis vel opusculi sui XRB₂ huius opusculi Δ

1883 Quia vnusquisque ins. AJXERCLB₂, BTΛ, F om. SΔ, Magd (MH₁G, Ad, WKH₃ defective at the end)

1884 1 Qvuia F

1885 2 sensualiter] intellectualiter A ... B₂

1886 3 dum tempus instat om. BTΛ

1887 4 ff. inter labores—composuit] tres precipue libros per ipsum dum vixit doctrine causa compositos ad aliorum noticiam in lucem seriose produxit. BTΛ

1888 8 f. necnon—gradibus om. BTΛ

1889 9 ff. viam—conatur] viam precipue qua peccator in penitendo Cristi misericordiam assequi poterit, tota mentis deuocione finaliter contemplatur BTΛ

1890 11 Titulusque] titulus AX ... B₂

1891 Speculum hominis A ... B₂ Speculum mediantis B

1892 13 ff. Secundus enim liber, sermone latino versibus exametri et pentametri compositus, tractat super illo mirabili euentu qui in Anglia (anglica J) tempore domini Regis Ricardi secundi anno regni sui quarto contigit, quando seruiles rustici impetuose contra nobiles et ingenuos regni insurrexerunt. Innocenciam tamen dicti domini Regis tunc minoris etatis causa inde excusabilem pronuncians, culpas aliunde, ex quibus et non a fortuna talia inter homines contingunt enormia, euidencius declarat. Titulusque voluminis huius, cuius ordo Septem continet paginas, Vox clamantis nominatur A ... B₂

Secundus liber versibus exametri et pentametri sermone latino componitur, tractat de variis infortuniis tempore regis Ricardi secundi in Anglia multipliciter contingentibus, vbi pro statu regni compositor deuocius exorat. Nomenque voluminis huius, quod in septem diuiditur partes, Vox clamantis intitulatur BTΛ

1893 20 ff. Tercius iste liber (liber iste J) Anglico sermone in octo partes diuisus, qui ad instanciam serenissimi Principis dicti domini Regis Anglie Ricardi secundi conficitur A ... B₂ Tercius iste liber qui in octo partes diuisus ob reuerenciam stren. dom. sui dom. Henrici de Lanc. &c. BT

1894 24 vsque in nunc T

1895 24 distingui B

1896 25 Nectanabum et Aristotilem A ... B₂

1897 26 regimine X ... B₂

1898 26 f. eius disciplina—materia om. AX ... B₂ eorum disciplina &c. J

1899 27 operis] libri J

1900 28 ff. super amorem et amantum condiciones fundamentum habet: vbi variarum Cronicarum historiarumque sentencie, necnon Poetarum Philosophorumque scripture ad exemplum distinccius inseruntur. Nomenque presentis opusculi Confessio Amantis specialiter intitulatur. A ... B₂ (but all except J have finem for sentencie).

1901 30 specialiter om. Λ

[Pg 481]

TO KING HENRY THE FOURTH1902

IN PRAISE OF PEACE1903

1904Electus Cristi, pie Rex Henrice, fuisti,

Qui bene venisti cum propria regna petisti;

Tu mala vicisti que bonis bona restituisti,

Et populo tristi noua gaudia contribuisti.

Est michi spes lata quod adhuc per te renouata

Succedent fata veteri probitate beata,

Est tibi nam grata gracia sponte data.

O worthi noble kyng, Henry the ferthe,1905

In whom the glade fortune is befalle

The poeple to governe uppon this erthe,1906

God hath the chose in comfort of ous alle:1907

The worschipe of this lond, which was doun falle,1908

Now stant upriht thurgh grace of thi goodnesse,

Which every man is holde forto blesse.

The highe god of his justice allone

The right which longeth to thi regalie

Declared hath to stonde in thi persone, 10

And more than god may no man justefie.

Thi title is knowe uppon thin ancestrie,

The londes folk hath ek thy riht affermed;

So stant thi regne of god and man confermed.

[Pg 482]

Ther is no man mai seie in other wise,

That god himself ne hath thi riht declared,1909

Whereof the lond is boun to thi servise,1910

Which for defalte of help hath longe cared:

Bot now ther is no mannes herte spared

To love and serve and wirche thi plesance, 20

And al is this thurgh godes pourveiance.1911

In alle thing which is of god begonne

Ther folwith grace, if it be wel governed:

Thus tellen thei whiche olde bookes conne,

Whereof, my lord, y wot wel thow art lerned.

Axe of thi god, so schalt thou noght be werned

Of no reqweste which is resonable;

For god unto the goode is favorable.

Kyng Salomon, which hadde at his axinge

Of god what thing him was levest to crave,1912 30

He ches wisdom unto the governynge1913

Of goddis folk, the whiche he wolde save:

And as he ches it fel him forto have;

For thurgh his wit, whil that his regne laste,

He gat him pees and reste unto the laste.1914

Bot Alisaundre, as telleth his histoire,1915

Unto the god besoghte in other weie,

Of all the world to winne the victoire,

So that undir his swerd it myht obeie.

In werre he hadde al that he wolde preie, 40

The myghti god behight him that beheste,

The world he wan, and had it of conqweste.1916

Bot thogh it fel at thilke time so,

That Alisandre his axinge hath achieved,

This sinful world was al paiene tho,1917

Was non which hath the hihe god believed:

No wondir was thogh thilke world was grieved,

Thogh a tiraunt his pourpos myhte winne;

Al was vengance and infortune of sinne.

[Pg 483]

Bot now the feith of Crist is come a place 50

Among the princes in this erthe hiere,

It sit hem wel to do pite and grace;

Bot yit it mot be tempred in manere:

For as thei finden cause in the matiere1918

Uppon the point, what aftirward betide,

The lawe of riht schal noght be leid aside.

So mai a kyng of werre the viage

Ordeigne and take, as he therto is holde,

To cleime and axe his rightful heritage

In alle places wher it is withholde: 60

Bot other wise if god himsilve wolde

Afferme love and pes betwen the kynges,

Pes is the beste above alle erthely thinges.1919

Good is teschue werre, and natheles

A kyng may make werre uppon his right,

For of bataile the final ende is pees.

Thus stant the lawe, that a worthi knyght

Uppon his trouthe may go to the fight;

Bot if so were that he myghte chese,

Betre is the pees, of which may no man lese. 70

<Sustene> pes oghte every man alyve,1920

First for to sette his liege lord in reste,

And ek these othre men that thei ne stryve;

For so this world mai stonden ate beste.1921

What kyng that wolde be the worthieste,

The more he myghte oure dedly werre cesse,

The more he schulde his worthinesse encresse.

Pes is the chief of al the worldes welthe,

And to the heven it ledeth ek the weie;

Pes is of soule and lif the mannes helthe, 80

Of pestilence and doth the werre aweie.

Mi liege lord, tak hiede of that y seie,

If werre may be left, tak pes on honde,

Which may noght be withoute goddis sonde.

[Pg 484]

With pes stant every creature in reste;

Withoute pes ther may no lif be glad:

Above alle othre good pes is the beste,

Pes hath himself whan werre is al bestad,

The pes is sauf, the werre is evere adrad:1922

Pes is of alle charite the keie,1923 90

Which hath the lif and soule forto weie.

My liege lord, if that the list to seche

The sothe essamples that the werre hath wroght,1924

Thow schalt wiel hiere of wisemennes speche

That dedly werre turneth into noght.

For if these olde bokes be wel soght,1925

Ther myght thou se what thing the werre hath do,

Bothe of conqueste and conquerour also.

For vein honour or for the worldes good

Thei that whilom the stronge werres made, 100

Wher be thei now? Bethenk wel in thi mod.

The day is goon, the nyght is derk and fade,

Her crualte, which mad hem thanne glade,

Thei sorwen now, and yit have noght the more;

The blod is schad, which no man mai restore.

The werre is modir of the wronges alle;

It sleth the prest in holi chirche at masse,

Forlith the maide and doth hire flour to falle.1926

The werre makth the grete Citee lasse,

And doth the lawe his reules overpasse. 110

There is no thing wherof meschef mai growe

Which is noght caused of the werre, y trowe.

The werre bringth in poverte at hise hieles,

Wherof the comon poeple is sore grieved;

The werre hath set his cart on thilke whieles

Wher that fortune mai noght be believed.

For whan men wene best to have achieved,

Ful ofte it is al newe to beginne:

The werre hath no thing siker, thogh he winne.

[Pg 485]

Forthi, my worthi prince, in Cristes halve, 120

As for a part whos feith thou hast to guide,1927

Ley to this olde sor a newe salve,1928

And do the werre awei, what so betide:

Pourchace pes, and set it be thi side,1929

And suffre noght thi poeple be devoured,

So schal thi name evere after stonde honoured.1930

If eny man be now or evere was1931

Ayein the pes thi preve counseillour,

Let god ben of thi counseil in this cas,1932

And put awei the cruel werreiour.1933 130

For god, which is of man the creatour,

He wolde noght men slowe his creature

Withoute cause of dedly forfeture.

Wher nedeth most, behoveth most to loke.

Mi lord, how so thi werres ben withoute,

Of time passed who that hiede toke,

Good were at hom to se riht wel aboute;

For everemor the werste is forto doute:

Bot if thou myghtest parfit pes atteigne,

Ther schulde be no cause forto pleigne. 140

Aboute a kyng good counseil is to preise

Above alle othre thinges most vailable;

Bot yit a kyng withinne himself schal peise,

And se the thinges that ben resonable,

And ther uppon he schal his wittes stable

Among the men to sette pes in evene,

For love of him which is the kyng of hevene.

Ha, wel is him that schedde nevere blod,1934

Bot if it were in cause of rihtwisnesse:

For if a kyng the peril undirstod, 150

What is to sle the poeple, thanne y gesse,

The dedly werres and the hevynesse,

Wherof the pes distourbid is ful ofte

Schulde at som time cesse and wexe softe.

[Pg 486]

O kyng fulfild of grace and of knyghthode,1935

Remembre uppon this point for Cristes sake,

If pes be profred unto thi manhode,

Thin honour sauf, let it noght be forsake.

Though thou the werres darst wel undirtake,

Aftir reson yit tempre thi corage, 160

For lich to pes ther is non avantage.

My worthi lord, thenk wel, how so befalle,1936

Of thilke lore, as holi bokes sein,

Crist is the heved and we ben membres alle,

Als wel the subgit as the sovereign:1937

So sit it wel that charite be plein,

Which unto god himselve most acordeth,

So as the lore of Cristes word recordeth.

In tholde lawe, er Crist himself was bore,

Among the ten comandementz y rede 170

How that manslaghtre schulde be forbore;

Such was the will that time of the godhede:

And aftirward, whanne Crist tok his manhede,1938

Pes was the ferste thing he let do crie

Ayein the worldes rancour and envie.1939

And er Crist wente out of this erthe hiere,

And stigh to hevene, he made his testament,1940

Wher he beqwath to his disciples there

And yaf his pes, which is the foundement

Of charite, withouten whos assent 180

The worldes pes mai nevere wel be tried,1941

Ne love kept, ne lawe justefied.

The Jewes with the paiens hadden werre,1942

Bot thei among hemself stode evere in pes:

Whi schulde thanne oure pes stonde out of herre,1943

Which Crist hath chose unto his oghne encres?

For Crist is more than was Moïses,

And Crist hath set the parfit of the lawe,

The which scholde in no wise be withdrawe.

[Pg 487]

To yive ous pes was cause whi Crist dide; 190

Withoute pes may no thing stonde availed:

Bot now a man mai sen on everi side

How Cristes feith is every dai assailed,1944

With the Paiens destruid, and so batailed

That for defalte of help and of defence

Unethe hath Crist his dewe reverence.

The righte feith to kepe of holy chirche

The firste point is named of knyghthode,

And everi man is holde forto wirche

Uppon the point which stant to his manhode.1945 200

Bot now, helas, the fame is sprad so broode,

That everi worthi man this thing compleigneth,1946

And yit ther is no man which help ordeigneth.1947

The worldes cause is waited overal,

Ther ben the werres redi to the fulle;

Bot Cristes oghne cause in special,

Ther ben the swerdes and the speres dulle;

And with the sentence of the popes bulle,

As forto do the folk paien obeie,1948

The chirche is turned al an other weie. 210

It is to wondre above a mannys wit1949

Withoute werre how Cristes feith was wonne,

And we that ben uppon this erthe yit

Ne kepe it noght, as it was first begonne.

To every creature undir the sonne

Crist bad himself how that we schulden preche,1950

And to the folk his evangile teche.

More light it is to kepe than to make;

Bot that we founden mad tofore the hond1951

We kepe noght, bot lete it lightly slake. 220

The pes of Crist hath altobroke his bond,

We reste ourselve and soeffrin every lond

To slen ech other as thing undefendid:

So stant the werre, and pes is noght amendid.

[Pg 488]

Bot thogh the heved of holy chirche above

Ne do noght al his hole businesse

Among the men to sette pes and love,1952

These kynges oughten of here rightwisnesse

Here oghne cause among hemself redresse:

Thogh Petres schip as now hath lost his stiere, 230

It lith in hem that barge forto stiere.

If holy cherche after the duete

Of Cristes word ne be noght al avysed

To make pes, acord and unite

Among the kinges that ben now devised,

Yit natheles the lawe stant assised

Of mannys wit to be so resonable,

Withoute that to stonde hemselve stable.1953

Of holy chirche we ben children alle,

And every child is holden forto bowe 240

Unto the modir, how that evere it falle,1954

Or elles he mot reson desalowe:

And for that cause a knyght schal ferst avowe

The right of holi chirche to defende,

That no man schal the previlege offende.

Thus were it good to setten al in evene

The worldes princes and the prelatz bothe,

For love of him which is the king of hevene:

And if men scholde algate wexe wrothe,

The Sarazins, whiche unto Crist be lothe, 250

Let men ben armed ayein hem to fighte;1955

So mai the knyht his dede of armes righte.

Uppon thre pointz stant Cristes pes oppressed:

Ferst holy cherche is in hirsilf divided,1956

Which oughte of reson first to be redresced;

Bot yit so highe a cause is noght decided.

And thus, whan humble pacience is prided,

The remenant, which that thei schulden reule,

No wondir is though it stonde out of reule.

[Pg 489]

Of that the heved is siek, the limes aken: 260

These regnes that to Cristes pes belongen

For worldes good these dedly werres maken,

Whiche helpeles as in balance hongen.1957

The heved above hem hath noght undirfongen

To sette pes, bot every man sleeth other,

And in this wise hath charite no brother.

The two defaltes bringen in the thridde,

Of mescreantz, that sen how we debate,

Betwen the two thei fallen in amidde,1958

Wher now aldai thei finde an open gate. 270

Lo, thus the dedly werre stant algate;

Bot evere y hope of King Henries grace

That he it is which schal the pes embrace.

My worthi noble prince and kyng enoignt,

Whom god hath of his grace so preserved,

Behold and se the world uppon this point,1959

As for thi part that Cristes pes be served:

So schal thin highe mede be deserved

To him which al schal qwiten ate laste,

For this lif hiere mai no while laste. 280

See Alisandre, Ector and Julius,

See Machabeu, David and Josue,

See Charlemeine, Godefroi, Arthus,1960

Fulfild of werre and of mortalite.

Here fame abit, bot al is vanite;

For deth, which hath the werres under fote,

Hath mad an ende of which ther is no bote.

So mai a man the sothe wite and knowe,1961

That pes is good for every king to have:

The fortune of the werre is evere unknowe, 290

Bot wher pes is, ther ben the marches save.1962

That now is up, to morwe is under grave;

The mighti god hath alle grace in honde,

With outen him pes mai nought longe stonde.1963

[Pg 490]

Of the Tenetz to winne or lese a chace,1964

Mai no lif wite er that the bal be ronne:

Al stant in god, what thing men schal pourchace,

Thende is in him er that it be begonne.

Men sein the wolle, whanne it is wel sponne,

Doth that the cloth is strong and profitable, 300

And elles it mai nevere be durable.1965

The worldes chaunces uppon aventure

Ben evere sett, bot thilke chaunce of pes

Is so behoveli to the creature,

That it above alle othre is piereles:1966

Bot it mai noght be gete natheles1967

Among the men to lasten eny while,

Bot wher the herte is plein withoute guyle.

The pes is as it were a sacrement

Tofore the god, and schal with wordes pleine 310

Withouten eny double entendement

Be treted, for the trouthe can noght feine:

Bot if the men withinne hemself be veine,

The substance of the pes may noght be trewe,

Bot every dai it chaungeth uppon newe.

Bot who that is of charite parfit,

He voideth alle sleightes ferr aweie,

And sett his word uppon the same plit,

Wher that his herte hath founde a siker weie:

And thus whan conscience is trewly weie, 320

And that the pes be handlid with the wise,1968

It schal abide and stonde in alle wise.

Thapostle seith, ther mai no lif be good

Which is noght grounded uppon charite,

For charite ne schedde nevere blod,

So hath the werre as ther no proprite:

For thilke vertu which is seid pite

With charite so ferforth is aqweinted,

That in hire may no fals semblant be peinted.1969

[Pg 491]

Cassodre, whos writinge is auctorized, 330

Seith, wher that pite reigneth, ther is grace,1970

Thurgh which the pes hath al his welthe assised,

So that of werre he dredeth no manace.

Wher pite dwelleth, in the same place

Ther mai no dedly cruelte sojorne,

Wherof that merci schulde his weie torne.1971

To se what pite forth with mercy doth,

The croniqe is at Rome in thilke empire

Of Constantin, which is a tale soth;

Whan him was levere his oghne deth desire 340

Than do the yonge children to martire,

Of crualte he lafte the querele,

Pite he wroghte and pite was his hele.

For thilke mannes pite which he dede

God was pitous and mad him hol at al;1972

Silvestre cam, and in the same stede

Yaf him baptisme first in special,

Which dide awai the sinne original,

And al his lepre it hath so purified,

That his pite for evere is magnified.1973 350

Pite was cause whi this emperour

Was hol in bodi and in soule bothe,

And Rome also was set in thilke honour

Of Cristes feith, so that the lieve of lothe,

Whiche hadden be with Crist tofore wrothe,

Resceived weren unto Cristes lore:1974

Thus schal pite be preised evermore.

My worthi liege lord, Henri be name,

Which Engelond hast to governe and righte,

Men oghten wel thi pite to proclame, 360

Which openliche in al the worldes sighte

Is schewed with the help of god almighte,

To yive ous pes, which longe hath be debated,

Wherof thi pris shal nevere ben abated.

[Pg 492]

My lord, in whom hath evere yit be founde1975

Pite withoute spot of violence,

Kep thilke pes alwei withinne bounde,

Which god hath planted in thi conscience:

So schal the cronique of thi pacience

Among the seintz be take into memoire 370

To the loenge of perdurable gloire.1976

And to thin erthli pris, so as y can,

Which everi man is holde to commende,

I, Gower, which am al thi liege man,

This lettre unto thin excellence y sende,

As y which evere unto my lives ende

Wol praie for the stat of thi persone

In worschipe of thi sceptre and of thi throne.1977

Noght only to my king of pes y write,

Bot to these othre princes cristene alle, 380

That ech of hem his oghne herte endite,

And see the werre er more meschief falle:1978

Sette ek the rightful Pope uppon his stalle,

Kep charite and draugh pite to honde,

Maintene lawe, and so the pes schal stonde.

Explicit carmen de pacis commendacione, quod ad laudem et memoriam serenissimi principis domini Regis Henrici quarti suus1979 humilis orator Iohannes Gower composuit.1980 Et nunc sequitur epistola in qua idem Ioannes pro statu et salute dicti domini sui apud altissitmum deuocius exorat.

1981Rex celi deus et dominus, qui tempora solus

Condidit, et solus condita cuncta regit;

Qui rerum causas ex se produxit et vnum

In se principium rebus inesse dedit;

Qui dedit vt stabili motu consisteret orbis

[Pg 493]

Fixus ineternum mobilitate sua;

Quique potens verbi produxit ad esse creata,

Quique sue mentis lege ligauit ea;

Ipse caput regum, reges quo rectificantur,

Te que tuum regnum, rex pie, queso, regat.1982 10

Grata superueniens te misit gracia nobis,

Quo sine labe salus nulla perante fuit.

Sic tuus aduentus noua gaudia sponte reduxit,

Quo prius in luctu lacrima maior erat:

Nos tua milicies pauidos releuauit ab ymo,

Quos prius oppressit ponderis omne malum:

Ex probitate tua, quo mors latitabat in vmbra,

Vita resurexit clara que regna regit:

Sic tua sors sortem mediante deo renouatam

Sanat et emendat, que prius egra fuit. 20

O pie rex, Cristum per te laudamus, et ipsum

Qui tibi nos tribuit terra reuiua colit.

Sancta sit illa dies qua tu tibi regna petisti,

Sanctus et ille deus qui tibi regna dedit.

Qui tibi prima tulit, confirmet regna futura,

Quo poteris magno magnus honore frui.

Sit tibi progenies ita multiplicata per euum,

Quod genus inde pium repleat omne solum.

Quicquid in orbe boni fuerit, tibi summus ab alto

Donet, vt in terris rex in honore regas: 30

Omne quod est turpe vacuum discedat, et omne

Est quod honorificum det deus esse tuum.

Consilium nullum, pie rex, te tangat iniquum,

In quibus occultum scit deus esse dolum.

Absit auaricia, ne tangat regia corda,

Nec queat in terra proditor esse tua.

Sic tua processus habeat fortuna perhennes,

Quo recolant laudes secula cuncta tuas:

Nuper vt Augusti fuerant preconia Rome,1983

Concinat in gestis Anglia leta tuis. 40

O tibi, rex, euo detur, fortissime, nostro

Semper honorata sceptra tenere manu:

Stes ita magnanimus quod, vbi tua regna gubernas,

Terreat has partes hostica nulla manus:

[Pg 494]

Augeat imperium tibi Cristus et augeat annos,

Protegat et nostras aucta corona fores:

Sit tibi pax finis, domito domineris in orbe,

Cunctaque sint humeris inferiora tuis.1984

Sic honor et virtus, laus, gloria, pax que potestas1985

Te que tuum regnum magnificare queant.1986 50

Cordis amore boni, pie rex, mea vota paraui;

Corpore cum nequii, seruio mente tibi:

Ergo tue laudi que tuo genuflexus honori1987

Verba loco doni pauper habenda tuli.

Est tamen ista mei, pie rex, sentencia verbi,

Fine tui regni sint tibi regna poli.

FOOTNOTES:

1902 The text is that of the MS. at Trentham Hall (T). Variations marked Th are those of the copy in Chaucer’s Works, ed. 1532, ff. 375 v^o-377.

1903 No title in T Iohan Gower vnto the worthy and noble kynge Henry the fourth Th

1904 Latin Verses placed at the end of the poem Th

1905 1 O Noble worthy kyng Th

1906 3 uppon this] here vpon Th

1907 4 chosen Th

1908 8 highe Th high T

1909 16 thi] the Th

1910 17 bounde Th

1911 21 this is Th goddes purueyaunce Th godespourveiance T

1912 30 to om. Th

1913 31 the om. Th

1914 35 unto the] in to his Th

1915 36 his storie Th

1916 42 he om. Th

1917 45 paynem Th

1918 54 as om. Th

1919 63 erthly Th

1920 71 S.... pes (erasure after S) T To stere peace Th eueriche on lyue Th

1921 74 lande may stande Th

1922 89 euer TTh

1923 90 al TTh

1924 93 that] what Th

1925 96 ysought Th

1926 108 here T her Th

1927 121 hast be gyde Th

1928 122 Ley Th Leie T

1929 124 sette TTh

1930 126 euer TTh

1931 127 euer TTh

1932 129 Lete T Lette Th

1933 130 put Th putte T

1934 148 neuer TTh

1935 155 and knighthode Th

1936 162 þenke T thynke Th

1937 165 the subgit] be subiecte Th

1938 173 But afterwarde Th

1939 175 Ayenst Th

1940 177 stighed Th

1941 181 neuer TTh

1942 183 paynyms Th

1943 185 erre Th

1944 194 paynems Th

1945 200 which] þat Th

1946 202 worthi om. Th

1947 203 is there Th which] that Th

1948 209 payne Th

1949 211 a] any Th

1950 216 how om. Th

1951 219 the om. Th

1952 227 men] people Th

1953 238 him selfe Th

1954 241 euer TTh

1955 251 ayenst Th

1956 254 is om. Th hersilf T her selfe Th

1957 263 helpples T helplesse Th

1958 269 Betwene TTh

1959 276 Beholde TTh

1960 283 Godfray and Arthus Th

1961 288 mai] many Th

1962 291 ben] is Th

1963 294 pes] men Th

1964 295 Off (for Of) T

1965 301 neuer TTh

1966 305 That is aboue al other peerles Th

1967 306 begete Th

1968 321 the pes] these Th

1969 329 here T her Th

1970 331 ther om. Th

1971 336 wei T way Th

1972 345 made Th

1973 350 euer TTh

1974 356 were TTh

1975 365 euer TTh

1976 371 loenge] legende Th

1977 378 and thy throne Th

1978 382 mor T

1979 Explicit 3 suis Th

1980 4 Et nunc—exorat om. Th

1981 Instead of the Latin lines that follow Th has here the lines ‘Electus Cristi—sponte data,’ which in T stand at the beginning, and after these without a break, ‘Henrici quarti—futura deus,’ twelve lines which are written at the end of the Trentham MS.

1982 10 Teque T

1983 39 augusti T

1984 48 Cuncta que T

1985 49 paxque T

1986 50 Teque T

1987 53 laudique T

[Pg 495]

NOTES

LIB. V. (continued)

1980. F has a stop after ‘Avarice,’ but see note on l. 3966.

1982 ff. The meaning seems to be that they make no distinction of day or night when there is work of this kind to be done.

2004. overhippeth, i. e. leaps over or omits something, so that he has not all that he desires. The word is used in Piers Plowman, xv. 379, of omitting passages in the services of the Church.

2015 ff. Cp. Mirour de l’Omme, 6253 ff.,

‘Sicomme le Luce en l’eaue gloute

Du piscon la menuse toute,

Qu’il presde luy verra noer,

Ensi ly riches,’ &c.

2031 ff. The tale of Virgil’s Mirror is from the French prose Roman des Sept Sages, as published by Le Roux de Lincy. It might easily be shown that Gower did not follow either the French metrical version or the Latin Historia Septem Sapientum. The English metrical version published by Weber is from a source similar to that of Gower’s story, but it differs in some points. Gower seems to be responsible for the introduction of Carthage and Hannibal.

2099. slepende a nyht, i. e. while they slept.

2101. Cp. Prol. 182.

2115. he his oghne body, i. e. ‘he himself.’

2150 f. This point is omitted in the English metrical version.

2157 f. The English metrical version is very similar, ‘We schulle the ymage so undersette, That we ne schal hit nothing lette.’

2168. That is, the timber having been set up.

2198 ff. This about Hannibal is introduced here as if taken from a different source, ‘For this I finde,’ &c.

2238f. Cp. Mirour, 10651, ‘Plus que gaigners son augst attent.’

2273 ff. The tale of the Two Coffers is essentially the same story as that which we have in Boccaccio Decam. x. i, and essentially different from that which is told in Vit. Barlaam et Josaphat, cap. vi, as a sequel to the story of the Trump of Death. The story which we have here and in Boccaccio is not at all connected with the idea of choosing[Pg 496] by the outward appearance. The coffers are exactly alike, and the very point of the situation lies in the fact that the choice is a purely fortuitous one. The object was to show that they who complained were persons who had fortune against them, and that this was the cause of their having failed of reward, and not any neglect on the part of the king. I cannot say what the source was for Gower; certainly not Boccaccio, whose story is altogether different in its details.

2391 ff. With this story may be compared that in the Gesta Romanorum, 109, where by a choice between three pasties, one containing money, a decision is come to as to whether it is God’s will that a certain sum shall be restored to its owner, who is a miser.

2476. tall, i. e. comely, elegant.

2481. Cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, D 259.

2507. His thonkes, ‘of his own good will’: cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, A 1626, &c.

2543 ff. See Hist. Alexandri Magni de Preliis, f 1, ed. Argent. 1489.

2547 ff. Rom. de Troie, 23283 ff.

2563. Cp. ii. 2025.

2587. ‘If men shall estimate her value.’ The reading of the text is also that of S.

2643 ff. This story is to be found in the Roman des Sept Sages. Gower follows the same French prose version as before, 2031 ff.

2677. it stod. In this kind of expression the verb is usually subjunctive, as Prol. 481, i. 991, iv. 182, &c.

2752. a weie. This is also the reading of S.

2815 f. A rather more violent displacement than usual of the conjunction, ‘And fled away with all the haste,’ &c. Cp. l. 3947.

2835. hele seems here to mean ‘profit,’ in a worldly sense.

2872. According to the New Engl. Dict. this is the same as the Dutch ‘heepe,’ ‘heep,’ meaning a pruning-hook. ‘As there is no cognate word in O. E., its appearance in Gower, and this apparently in a proverbial phrase, is not easy to account for.’ In any case the phrase here seems equivalent to ‘by hook or by crook.’

2937. F has punctuation after ‘dai,’ but this is clearly a case of the inverted order of the conjunction: cp. note on Prol. 155, and below on l. 3966.

2961 ff. The story is probably taken from Statius, Achill. i. 197 ff., where however it is told at much greater length. For Gower’s acquaintance with the Achilleis, cp. iv. 1968 ff.

3002 ff. Cp. Achill. i. 338 ff.

3004 f. That is, howsoever his behaviour might be watched.

3082. Protheüs. According to Statius, Achill. i. 494 ff., Protesilaus rebuked Calchas for not having discovered Achilles, upon which Calchas revealed the truth. Perhaps the mention of Protesilaus suggested to Gower the idea of Proteus, of whom he had heard as one who could change his form at will, see l. 6672, and perhaps as[Pg 497] having prophesied the birth and greatness of Achilles (Ovid, Metam. xi. 221 ff.).

3119. topseilcole, see note on viii. 1890.

3138 f. Cp. Achill. i. 812 ff.

3247 ff. The first part of the story of Jason and Medea (ll. 3247-3926) is taken from Benoît (Rom. de Troie, 703-2062), and not from Guido, as may be easily shown by comparison of the texts. For example, Guido tells all the conditions of the enterprise, about the fire-breathing bulls, the serpent’s teeth and so on, at the beginning of the story, whereas Benoît more dramatically introduces them into the instructions given to Jason by Medea (Rom. de Troie, 1337-1374, 1691-1748), and in this he is followed by Gower (3505-3540). Guido says nothing about the sleeplessness of the serpent (Rom. de Troie, 1357 f., Conf. Am. v. 3514), nor about repeating the charm ‘contre orient’ (Rom. de Troie, 1700), nor does he mention the thanksgiving which Jason is to offer up to the gods after his victory and before he takes the fleece (Rom. de Troie, 1735 f., Conf. Am. v. 3626 ff.). The sleep of Jason after leaving Medea is omitted by Guido (Rom. de Troie, 1755 ff., Conf. Am. v. 3665 ff.), and also the bath which he took after his adventure (Rom. de Troie, 1999, Conf. Am. v. 3801). There is no need to multiply instances, which will be observed by every careful reader. We have seen on other occasions that Gower prefers Benoît to Guido, and not without excellent reasons. Guido indeed makes this story even more prosaic than usual, and combines it with matter-of-fact discussions about the magic powers of Medea and the virtues of the various stones which she used.

Gower, however, does not follow Benoît in a slavish manner. He omits or alters the details of the story very happily at times, and he adds much of his own. Thus he omits all mention of the evil motives of Peleus (or Pelias), and makes the proposal to seek the golden fleece come from Jason; he passes over the story of the dispute with Laomedon, which was necessary to the Roman de Troie, but not to the story of Jason taken separately; he adds the discourse of Jason with Oëtes on his arrival; he omits the details about Medea’s hair and eyes, her arms and her chin (Rom. de Troie, 1254 ff.), and dwells rather upon the feelings which the two lovers had for one another at first sight (3376 ff.). When they are together at night, it is Medea, according to our author, and not Jason, who suggests that it is time to rise and to speak of what has to be done (3547 ff.); and Gower adds the scene of parting (3634-3659), the description of Jason’s return over the sea and of Medea’s feelings meanwhile upon her tower, and the sending of the maid to inquire how he did. Finally, he much improves the story by making the flight take place at once, instead of prolonging Jason’s stay for a month.

Chaucer, who tells the story in a rather perfunctory manner, follows Guido (Leg. of Good Women, 1396 ff.).

3291. And schop anon, &c. This might be understood of Peleus,[Pg 498] who, according to the original story, gave orders for the building of the ship; but better perhaps of Jason, ‘And schop’ for ‘And he schop,’ cp. l. 4590 and vi. 1636.

3376. herd spoke: cp. 4485, ‘I have herd seid.’

3388. That is, ‘they took heed each of other.’ For the plural verb cp. 3439.

3416. That is, ‘he took St. John as his pledge’ of a good issue, ‘he committed himself to the care of St. John.’ The expression was often used in connexion with setting out on a journey: cp. Chaucer, Compl. of Mars, 9.

3422. Cp. iv. 3273, vi. 2104. The expression in vi. 1621 f., ‘to ful age, That he can reson and langage,’ that is, ‘till he is of full age and knows reason,’ &c., is much of the same kind.

3488. dede him helpe. We must take this second ‘helpe’ as a substantive, otherwise the rhyme would not be good. The rule is that words identical in form can only be combined in rhyme when they have some difference of meaning.

3509. to thyle. The idea was that the golden fleece was guarded in a small island adjacent to the larger ‘isle of Colchos.’ See Rom. de Troie, 1791 ff.,

‘Ilec li covient à passer,

Ou voille ou non, un bras de mer;

Mès estreiz est, ne dure mie

Gaires plus de lieue et demie.

De l’altre part est li isliax,

Non mie granz, mès molt est biax.’

3533. dethes wounde, ‘deadly wound’: cp. iii. 2657, ‘And smot him with a dethes wounde,’ and also the genitives ‘lyves’ for ‘living’ and ‘worldes’ for ‘worldly,’ i. 1771, iv. 382, &c.

3573. hold, i. e. let him hold: cp. viii. 1128, 1420.

3579 ff. According to Benoît Medea gave him first the magic figure, ‘une figure Fete par art et par conjure’ (cp. 3580), then the ointment and the ring, and after that a writing, the words of which he was to repeat three times when he came to the place. Gower changes the order of things, and combines the writing with the ‘hevenely figure,’ describing it as written over with names which he is to repeat in the manner mentioned.

3632. That thanne he were, &c., that is, she prayed that he would soon be gone.

3654. ‘It shall not be owing to any sloth of mine if I do not,’ &c.

3665 ff.

‘Dedanz son lit s’est tost cochiez

Endormi sei en eslepas;

Car tot esteit de veiller las:

Et quant il ot dormi grant piece,

Tant qu’il estoit ja halte tierce,

Levez s’est,’ &c. Rom. de Troie, 1756 ff.

‘undren hih’ is in the French ‘halte tierce.’

[Pg 499]

3681. recorde, ‘take note of.’

3688. The reading of X here, ‘And forth with all his wey he fongeth,’ is also that of GOAd₂.

3707. scherded: perhaps the word is suggested by Benoît’s expression, ‘Les escherdes hérice’ (Rom. de Troie, 1905).

3711. A literal translation of Rom. de Troie, 1906, ‘Feu et venin gitot ensenble.’ With the lines that follow cp. Rom. de Troie, 1911 ff.

3731 ff. The picturesque elements here are perhaps partly suggested by Rom. de Troie, 1869 ff.

3747. That he ne were, expressing a wish: cp. iv. 3414, ‘Helas, that I nere of this lif,’ equivalent to ‘why ne were I,’ l. 5979.

3781 f. ‘leyhe’ seems to be modified in form for the sake of the rhyme, the usual form in Gower being ‘lawhe.’

3786. naght, in rhyme for ‘noght’: cp. ‘awht,’ ‘auht,’ i. 2770, v. 6073.

3789. So Ovid, Metam. vii. 144 ff.,

‘Tu quoque victorem complecti, barbara, velles,

Obstitit incepto pudor,’ &c.,

but it is also in Benoît, Rom. de Troie, 1991 f.

3793 ff. The sending of the maid, with the pretty touch in l. 3800, is an addition by Gower.

3890. Cp. i. 1516.

3904. this was conseil, ‘this was a secret’: cp. iii. 778, vi. 2326; so Chaucer, Cant. Tales, C 819, ‘Shal it be conseil?’ cp. D 966, E 2431.

3927 ff. Benoît tells no more of Jason’s life after his return to Greece, saying that Dares relates no more, and he does not wish to tell stories that may not be true, ‘N’en velt fere acreire mençonge.’ From this point then Gower follows Ovid, Metam. vii. 159-293, and it must be understood that the illustrative quotations in the notes are from this passage.

3947. ‘And prayed her that by the magic art which she knew,’ &c. For the order of words cp. 2815 f.

3957 f. Ovid makes it full moon, l. 180, but afterwards, l. 188, says ‘Sidera sola micant.’

3962 ff.

‘Egreditur tectis vestes induta recinctas,

Nuda pedem, nudos humeris infusa capillos,

Fertque vagos mediae per muta silentia noctis

Incomitata gradus.’ Metam. vii. 182 ff.

The comparison to the adder in l. 3967 is Gower’s own.

3966. F has a stop after ‘specheles,’ there being a natural tendency even in the best copies to treat ‘and’ or ‘for’ as the beginning of a new clause: so (to take examples from the fifth book only) v. 231, 410, 444, 2318, 2937, 5096, in all which places F has apparently wrong punctuation in connexion with this kind of inverted order.

3971 ff.

‘Ter se convertit, ter sumptis flumine crinem

Irroravit aquis, ternis ululatibus ora

Solvit’: 189 f.

[Pg 500]

3981. The punctuation is that of F, but perhaps we ought rather to read,

‘Sche preide and ek hield up hir hond,

To Echates and gan to crie.’

3986. help. For this use of the imperat. sing, (with ‘helpeth’ just above) see Introduction, p. cxviii.

3994.

‘Sublimis rapitur, subiectaque Thessala Tempe

Despicit, et Creteis regionibus applicat angues:’ 222 f.

Gower very naturally understood this to mean that Medea visited Crete, and hence the confusion of geography. He could not be expected to know that Othrys and Olympus were mountains of Thessaly, and hence that the ‘Creteis’ or ‘cretis’ of his manuscript was probably a corruption.

4000 f.

‘et placitas partim radice revellit,

Partim succidit curvamine falcis ahenae.’ 226 f.

4005. Eridian, i. e. Apidanus.

4006.

‘Necnon Peneus, necnon Spercheïdes undae

Contribuere aliquid.’ 230 f.

4011. the rede See. Perhaps Gower read ‘rubrum mare’ for ‘refluum mare’ in Metam. vii. 258.

4031 ff.

‘statuitque aras e caespite binas,

Dexteriore Hecates, at laeva parte Iuventae.’ 240 f.

4039. ‘verbenis, silvaque incinxit agresti,’ 242. Gower took ‘silva agrestis’ as the name of a herb and ingeniously translated it into ‘fieldwode.’

4052 f. ‘Umbrarumque rogat rapta cum coniuge regem,’ 249. Our author is able to supply the names correctly.

4064-4114. This picturesque passage is for the most part original.

4127 ff. ‘Nec defuit illic Squamea Cinyphii tenuis membrana chelydri,’ 272. Gower understood this to mean ‘the scales of Cinyphius (or Cimphius) and the skin of Chelidrus.’

4134. ‘novem cornicis saecula passae,’ 274.

4137. Ovid speaks of the entrails of a werwolf, ‘Ambigui prosecta lupi,’ &c.

4156. For omission of relative cp. l. 4205 and note on i. 10.

4175 ff. The story here is only summarized by Ovid, Metam. vii. 394-401. Gower of course knew it from other sources.

4219. ‘intrat Palladias arces,’ Metam. vii. 398. This means Athens, but it is misunderstood by Gower.

4251. Philen, i. e. Nephele. Hyginus tells this story much as it is told here (except that it was the mother of the children who provided the ram), but he gives the name in its Latin form, as ‘Nebula.’ Note the mistake as to this name in the margin, appearing in all MSS. except SΔΛ.

[Pg 501]

4299 ff. Note the confused construction of the sentence: cp. note on i. 98.

4391. The metaphor of hunting is still kept up: the gain which they pursue is started like a hare and driven into the net.

4399. Outward, that is, when he gives things out, cp. ‘withinne’ below.

4452. I were a goddeshalf. This seems to mean, ‘I should be content,’ that is, I should be ready to say ‘In God’s name let it be so.’ For the expression cp. l. 5016, ‘Thanne a goddes half The thridde time assaie I schal.’ In the New Engl. Dict. (‘half’) it is said to be used ‘to add emphasis to a petition, command, or expression of consent or resignation’: cp. Chaucer, Book of the Duchess, 370, 757.

4455. I biede nevere ... Bot, ‘I demand only.’ In this expression ‘biede’ and ‘bidde’ have been confused, as often. Thus we have ‘I bidde nevere a betre taxe,’ i. 1556, ‘That I ne bede nevere awake,’ iv. 2905, in the latter of which ‘bede’ may be either pret. subj. of ‘bidde,’ or pres. ind. equivalent to ‘biede,’ and vi. 1356, ‘He bede nevere fare bet’ where ‘bede’ is apparently pret. subj. of bidde; while in the English Rom. of the Rose, 791, we have ‘Ne bode I nevere thennes go,’ in which ‘bode’ must be pret. subj. of ‘biede.’

4465. lete: see note on i. 3365.

4549 ff. Cp. i. 42 ff.

4557 f. ‘No law may control him either by severity or by mildness.’ For the use of ‘compaignie’ in the sense of ‘friendliness’ cp. i. 1478, and below, l. 7759.

4583 ff. Ovid, Metam. iii. 362 ff., but the circumstances are somewhat modified to suit Gower’s purpose. According to Ovid Echo’s fault was that she talked too much and diverted Juno’s attention, and her punishment was that her speech was confined to a mere repetition of what she heard. Here the crime is rather that she cunningly concealed in her speech what she ought to have told, and the punishment is that she is obliged to tell everything that comes to her ears.

4590. ‘And through such brocage he was untrue,’ &c. For the omission of the pronoun see note on i. 1895.

4623. maken it so queinte, ‘be so cunning’: cp. iv. 2314, where however ‘queinte’ has a different meaning.

4642. hire mouth ascape, i. e. escape being repeated by her mouth.

4661. The aspiration of ‘hem,’ so as to prevent elision, is very unusual: cp. Introduction, p. cxxv.

4668 ff. ‘I shall arrange in their due order those branches of Avarice on which no wealth is well bestowed,’ that is, those which make no return for what is bestowed upon them, viz. Usury and Ingratitude.

4708. of som reprise, i. e. ‘of some cost,’ cp. i. 3414,

‘Which most is worth, and no reprise

It takth ayein,’

that is, it costs nothing.

[Pg 502]

4724. with ydel hand, ‘with empty hand,’ that is, without a lure. This seems to be the original meaning of the adjective: see New Eng. Dict. ‘idle.’

4731. the gold Octovien. The treasures of Octovien (or Octavian) were proverbial: cp. Rom. de Troie, 1684 f.,

‘Unques Oteviens de Rome

Ne pot conquerre tel aveir,’

and again 28594,

‘Se li tresors Octoviens

Fust lor, si lor donassent il.’

The expression here seems to be in imitation of the French form without preposition, as in the latter of the above quotations.

The French Roman d’Othevien, found in the Bodleian MS. Hatton 100, and reproduced in two English versions, has nothing to do with the treasures of Octovien, for which see William of Malmesbury, Gesta Regum, ii. § 169 f. The treasures were supposed to be buried at Rome or elsewhere, and several persons, especially the Pope Silvester (Gerbert), were said to have seen them, but not to have been permitted to carry them away. They appear also in the Roman des Sept Sages.

4748. eschu of. The adjective is used by Chaucer with ‘to’ (or ‘for to’) and infin., Cant. Tales, E 1812, I 971. We may note the spelling here with reference to Chaucer’s rhyme in the former passage.

4763. ‘It may not by any means be avoided that,’ &c.

4774. as to tho pars, ‘as regards those matters’: ‘pars’ is the French plural form, cp. Mirour, 7386, where apparently ‘pars’ means ‘duties.’

4787. Cp. l. 7716, where the saying has a different application. The proverb is here used of those who are, as we say, penny wise and pound foolish. In the other passage it is applied to the opposite case of gaining the coat for the hood.

4808 ff. This story is founded on the so-called Comedia Babionis, one of those Latin elegiac poems in a quasi-dramatic form which were popular in the fourteenth century. Others of the same class are Geta and Pamphilus. In the original, Viöla is Babio’s step-daughter, with whom he is in love, and who is taken in marriage against his will by Croceus. The serving-man is Fodius, not Spodius, and most of the piece is concerned with an intrigue between him and the wife of Babio. See Wright’s Early Mysteries, p. 65.

4899. comth to londe, ‘appears’: cp. l. 18.

4921. who that it kan, that is, as any one who knows it will witness: cp. l. 4927, ‘For, as any one who observes may know, a beast is,’ &c.

4937 ff. This story, which is of Eastern origin, is told near the end of the Speculum Stultorum (i. e. Burnellus), with which Gower was acquainted, as we know from the Vox Clamantis. The names there are Bernardus and Dryānus, and the animals are three, a serpent, an ape, and a lion. A similar tale is told by Matthew Paris, under the year 1195, as related by King Richard I in order to recommend[Pg 503] liberality in the cause of Christendom. In this the rich man is Vitalis, a Venetian, and the poor man’s name is not given. The animals in the pit are a lion and a serpent. Vitalis thanks his deliverer, and appoints a time for him to come to his palace in Venice and receive the promised reward of half his goods; but when he comes, he is refused with contumely. The magic qualities of the gem which the serpent brings are not mentioned in the story of Vitalis.

5010 f. So in the Speculum Stultorum, ‘Tunc ita Bernardus, Sathanae phantasmate lusum Se reputans, dixit,’ &c.

5022. blessed, i. e. crossed himself. This ceremony plays a considerable part in the story of Vitalis, for by it he is preserved from the wild beasts while in the pit.

5025. Betwen him and his Asse, that is, he and his ass together: cp. l. 5381. The expression is imitated from the French, cp. Roman de Troie, 5837.

5093. There is a stop after ‘Purs,’ no doubt rightly, in F. On the other hand the stop after ‘wif’ in l. 5096 must be wrong.

5123 f. Cp. 4597 ff.

5215. standt. For this spelling cp. ‘bidt,’ iv. 1162.

5231 ff. The outline of this story might have been got from Ovid and from Hyginus, Fab. 40-43, but several points of detail suggest a different source. These are, for example, the idea that the son of Minos went to Athens to study philosophy, the statement of the number of persons sent as a tribute to Minos, the incident of the ball of pitch given by Ariadne to Theseus to be used against the Minotaur, and the name of the island where Ariadne was deserted. In the first and third of these Gower agrees with Chaucer, Legend of Good Women, 1894 ff., but his story is apparently quite independent, so that in regard to, these matters we must assume a common source: cp. L. Bech in Anglia, v. 337 ff.

as telleth the Poete. The authority referred to here must be Ovid (cp. i. 386, ii. 121, v. 6713, 6804, &c.). He slightly mentions the death of Androgeus, Metam. vii. 458, and relates the war of Minos against Megara at some length (Metam. viii. 1 ff), very briefly summarising the remainder of the story. Chaucer follows Ovid more fully here, telling the story of Nisus, to which Gower does not think it necessary to refer.

5248. dighte. This is the form of spelling here in S as well as F: so also in l. 5352.

5264 f. Hyginus says seven persons each year: Chaucer seems to conceive it as one every third year. The usual account is seven youths and seven maidens either every year or once in nine years.

5302. many on. Perhaps we should read ‘manye on’ with S and F, as vii. 2191, ‘manye an other.’

5319. This expression occurs also in ll. 5598 and 7553.

5360. fawht. Elsewhere this verb has preterite ‘foghte,’ as iii. 2651, iv. 2095, but the strong form ‘faught’ is used by Chaucer, e. g. Cant. Tales, B 3519, and this in fact is the originally correct form.

[Pg 504]

5413. Chyo. Ovid says ‘Dia,’ that is Naxos.

5507. His rihte name: cp. Mirour, 409, ‘par son droit noun Je l’oi nommer Temptacioun,’ 4243, ‘Si ot a noun par droit nommant,’ &c. and other similar expressions.

5510. as men telleth: cp. l. 6045, ‘men seith.’

5511. According to the margin Extortion is the mother of Ravine.

5550. femeline, used repeatedly both as adjective and as substantive in the Mirour de l’Omme.

5551 ff. The tale of Tereus is from Ovid, Metam. vi. 424-674, in some parts abbreviated and in others expanded, with good judgement usually in both cases, so that this is one of Gower’s best-told tales. He omits the long account given by Ovid of the way in which Pandion was persuaded to allow Philomela to accompany Tereus (Metam. vi. 447-510), the incidents of the rescue of Philomela from her imprisonment, which no doubt he felt would be unintelligible to his readers (587-600), and many of the more shocking details connected with the death of Itys and the feast upon his flesh. On the other hand he has added the prayer and reflections of Philomene in her prison (ll. 5734-5768), the prayers of the two sisters (5817-5860), the words of Progne to Tereus (5915-5927), and especially the reflections on the nightingale and the swallow at the end of the story (5943-6029). This latter part is quite characteristic of our author, and as usual it is prettily conceived.

Chaucer, who tells the story in the Legend of Good Women, 2228-2393, was weary of it even from the beginning (2257 f.), and omits the conclusion altogether, either as too shocking or as not suiting with his design. So far as he goes, however, he follows Ovid more closely than Gower.

5555. See note on Prol. 460.

5598. So also ll. 5319, 7553.

5623. Ovid’s comparison is to fire catching dry straw and leaves, Metam. vi. 456 f.

5643 ff. Ovid compares her state after the deed was done to that of a lamb hurt by a wolf and still trembling, or a dove which has escaped wounded from a bird of prey (527-530). Here, on the other hand, the idea is of being held fast, so that she cannot move or escape; while Chaucer, using the same similes as Ovid, applies the comparison less appropriately to her fear of the violence yet to come.

5651. Cp. Metam. vi. 531, ‘Mox ubi mens rediit.’

5663 ff.

‘si copia detur,

In populos veniam; si silvis clausa tenebor,

Implebo silvas, et conscia saxa movebo.’ Metam. vi. 545 ff.

5670. I suspect the combination ‘tale and ende’ may have arisen from some such phrase as ‘to sette tale on ende’ (or ‘an ende’), meaning to begin a speech: see New Engl. Dict. under ‘ende.’

5676. where is thi fere? that is, ‘where is thy fear of the gods?’[Pg 505] We must not take ‘fere’ in the sense of ‘companion’ or ‘equal,’ because in that case it could not properly rhyme with ‘Ere.’

5690 f.

‘comprensam forcipe linguam

Abstulit ense fero.’ Metam. vi. 556 f.

Gower must be commended for omitting the tasteless lines which follow in Ovid about the severed tongue, and still more the shocking statement, which even Ovid accompanies with ‘vix ausim credere,’ of 561 f.

5709. tyh, preterite of ‘ten,’ from OE. ‘tēon,’ meaning ‘draw,’ and hence ‘come.’

5724. The punctuation follows F, ‘To hire’ meaning ‘in her case,’ cp. l. 4182, vii. 4937. It would suit the sense better perhaps to set the comma after ‘forsake,’ and to take ‘To hire’ with what follows: cp. note on l. 3966, where it is shown that the punctuation of F is often wrong in such cases as this.

5726. hir Sostres mynde, ‘her sister’s memory.’

5730. guile under the gore, that is, deceit concealed, as it were, under a cloak: cp. l. 6680. The expression ‘under gore’ is common enough, meaning the same as ‘under wede,’ and this alliterative form looks like a proverbial expression.

5734-5768. All this is original.

5737. so grete a wo: cp. l. 6452, and see Introduction, p. cx.

5778. ‘nec scit quid tradat in illis,’ Metam. vi. 580.

5793. ‘Non est lacrimis hic, inquit, agendum, Sed ferro,’ Metam. vi. 611.

5802 ff. According to Ovid this was done under cover of a Bacchic festival (587 ff.).

5816-5860. This is all original.

5840. to lytel of me let: see note on l. 1004.

5891 ff. Gower does well in omitting the circumstances of this which Ovid gives (619-646), and in partially covering the horror of it by the excuse of madness, but there is one touch which ought to have been brought in, ‘Ah, quam Es similis patri!’ (621).

5910 ff. Ovid says that Philomela threw the gory head into the father’s face, and that Tereus endeavoured to vomit up that which he had eaten. Our author has shown good taste in not following him.

5915 ff. This speech is not in Ovid.

5943-6029. Nearly all this is Gower’s own. Ovid only says, ‘Quarum petit altera silvas: Altera tecta subit’ (668 f.). We have already observed upon our author’s tendency to make additions of this symbolical kind to the stories which he takes from Ovid: see note on i. 2355.

6020. The reading ‘here’ is given both by S and F, but ‘hire’ (‘hir’), supported by AJMXGCB₂, BT, W, seems to be required by the sense. She informs them of the falseness of her husband, that they also may learn to beware of them, that is of husbands. The combination of ‘here’[Pg 506] with the singular ‘housebonde,’ meaning ‘their husbands,’ would be very harsh.

6041 ff.

‘Ille dolore suo, poenaeque cupidine velox,

Vertitur in volucrem, cui stant in vertice cristae,

Prominet immodicum pro longa cuspide rostrum.

Nomen Epops volucri, facies armata videtur.’

Metam. vi. 671 ff.

The lapwing is identified with the hoopoe because of its crest. In the Traitié, xii, where this story is shortly told, Tereus is changed into a ‘hupe,’

‘Dont dieus lui ad en hupe transformée,

En signe qu’il fuist fals et avoltier,’

while at the same time in the Mirour, 8869 ff., the ‘hupe’ is represented as the bird which tries to deceive those who search for its nest, a description which obviously belongs to the lapwing.

6047. Cp. Chaucer, Parl. of Foules, 347, ‘The false lapwyng ful of trecherye.’

6053. goddes forebode: cp. Chaucer, Leg. of Good Women, 10,

‘But goddes forbode but men schulde leve,’

where the second form of text has

‘But god forbede but men shulde leve.’

We must take ‘forebode’ as a substantive.

6073. auht: modified to suit the rhyme: so ‘awht,’ i. 2770, and ‘naght,’ l. 3786, rhyming with ‘straght.’ The regular forms for Gower are ‘oght,’ ‘noght.’

6145 ff. This is from Ovid, Metam. ii. 569-588. Gower has judiciously kept it apart from the story of Coronis and the raven, told by him in the second book, with which it is combined in rather a confusing manner by Ovid. The story is somewhat expanded by Gower.

6150. wif to Marte: cp. 1214 f.

6169. And caste: cp. l. 4590, and see note on i. 1895.

6197. ‘mota est pro virgine virgo, Auxiliumque tulit,’ Metam. ii. 579 f., but Ovid says nothing of any special prayer to Pallas for help, nor does he represent that Cornix was before in attendance upon that goddess.

6207 ff. This is original and characteristic of our author.

6225 ff. This story is from Ovid, Metam. ii. 409-507, but Gower evidently knew it from other sources also, for the name Calistona (or Callisto) is not given by Ovid, who calls her ‘virgo Nonacrina’ and ‘Parrhasis.’ Hyginus tells it in various forms, Fab. 177 and Poet. Astr. ii. 2.

6255. According to Ovid, Diana was quite ignorant of the fact, though the nymphs suspected it.

6258. in a ragerie, that is ‘in sport’: cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales,[Pg 507] E 1847, and the use of the verb ‘rage,’ e. g. i. 1764 and Cant. Tales, A 257, 3273, 3958.

6275 ff. ‘I procul hinc, dixit, nec sacros pollue fontes,’ Metam. ii. 464.

6281. F has a stop after ‘schame.’

6291 ff. This address is mostly original: cp. Metam. ii. 471 ff.

6334 ff.

‘Arcuit omnipotens, pariterque ipsosque nefasque

Sustulit, et celeri raptos per inania vento

Imposuit caelo vicinaque sidera fecit.’

Metam. ii. 505 ff.

Latin Verses, x. The idea expressed is that though examples of virginity can only be produced through marriage, yet virginity is nobler than marriage, as the flower of a rose is nobler than the stock from which it springs. Marriage, in fact, replenishes the earth, but virginity heaven: cp. Trait. ii.

6359 ff. Cp. Mirour, 17119 ff., where the saying is attributed to Jerome, who says in fact that precedence was given in the streets to the Vestal Virgins by the highest magistrates, and even by victors riding in the triumphal car (adv. Jovin. ii. 41).

6372 ff. Cp. Mirour, 18301 ff. The anecdote is taken from Valerius Maximus, Mem. iv. 5, but the name in the original is ‘Spurina,’ and he does not thrust out his eyes, but merely destroys the beauty of his face. In the Mirour it is ‘Coupa ses membres.’

6385 ff. ‘So may I prove that, if a man will weigh the virtues, he will find that virginity is to be praised above all others.’ The sentence is disordered for the sake of the rhymes: cp. ii. 709 ff.

6389. The quotation from the Apocalypse is given in the margin of SΔ and in Mirour, 17053 ff. The reference is to Rev. xiv. 4.

6395* ff. Cp. Mirour, 17067 and note.

6398 ff. This also appears in Mirour, 17089 ff., and Traitié, xvi. It may have been taken from the Epistola Valerii ad Rufinum.

6402. The margin makes him ‘octogenarius,’ and so it is also in the Mirour and Traitié, as well as in the Epistola Valerii.

6435 ff. This shows more knowledge than could have been got from the Roman de Troie. The story is told by Hyginus, Fab. 121, but not exactly as we have it here. This ‘Criseide douhter of Crisis’ should be distinguished from the Criseide daughter of Calchas (Briseïda in the Roman de Troie), who is associated with Troilus, if it is worth while making distinctions where so much confusion prevails.

6442. dangerous, that is, ‘grudging’ or ‘reluctant’: cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, D 1090, and see note on i. 2443.

6452. So grete a lust: cp. l. 5737 and Introduction, p. cx.

6498. as a Pocok doth. It is difficult to see the appropriateness of the comparison, for to ‘stalke’ is to go cautiously or secretly, and that is evidently the meaning here, so that any idea of display is out of the question. The peacock was supposed to be ashamed of its[Pg 508] ugly feet, cp. Mirour, 23459, and in the Secretum Secretorum we actually have the expression ‘humilis et obediens ut pavo,’ translated by Lydgate (or Burgh) ‘Meeke as a pecock.’ Albertus Magnus says, ‘Cum aspicitur ad solem, decorem ostentat, et alio tempore occultat quantum poterit’ (De Animalibus, 23). There seems to have been a notion that it was liable to have its pride humbled and to slink away ashamed.

6526. bile under the winge, that is, concealed, as a bird’s head under its wing: apparently proverbial.

6541. I mai remene ... mene. This is apparently the reading of the MSS. The meaning of ‘remene’ is properly to bring back. It is used earlier, i. 279, with reference to the application of the teaching about vices generally to the case of love, and here it seems to have much the same sense. ‘So that I may apply what has been said about this craft directly’ (‘Withouten help of eny mene’) to the case of lovers, they being very evidently offenders in this way.

6581. hire it is: but in l. 4470, ‘It schal ben hires.’

6608 ff. For the construction see note on i. 718.

6620. Danger: see note on i. 2443.

6634. slyke: cp. l. 7092*, ‘He can so wel hise wordes slyke.’ The word means properly to smoothe, hence to flatter: cp. the modern ‘sleek.’

6635. Be him, &c., i. e. by his own resources or by the help of any other.

6636. To whom: see note on i. 771.

6654. a nyht, i. e. by night, also written ‘anyht,’ ii. 2857.

6672. Protheüs, that is Proteus: cp. note on l. 3082.

6674. in what liknesse, ‘into any form whatsoever.’

6680. under the palle, ‘in secret,’ like ‘under the gore,’ l. 5730.

6713 ff. From Ovid, Metam. iv. 192-255, but with several changes. In the original story the Sun-god came to Leucothoe by night and in the form of her mother. Clytie (not Clymene) discovered the fact (without the aid of Venus) and told it to the father; and it was an incense plant which grew from the place where Leucothoe was buried.

6757. For the expression cp. iii. 2555, ‘Achastus, which with Venus was Hire priest.’

6779. This change into a flower which follows the sun is suggested by Metam. iv. 266 ff., where we are told that Clytie was changed into a heliotrope. Here it is a sun-flower apparently.

6807 ff. From Ovid, Fasti, ii. 305-358. The ‘mistress’ of whom Ovid speaks is Omphale, but Gower supposed it to be Iole. He gets ‘Thophis’ as the name of the cave from a misunderstanding of l. 317, and apparently he read ‘Saba’ for ‘Lyda’ in l. 356, out of which he has got his idea of a goddess Saba with attendant nymphs. This feature, though based on a mistake, is a decided improvement of the story, which is told by Gower in a spirited and humorous manner.

6848 ff. The reading of X in this passage is also that of GOAd₂.

6899. The punctuation is that of F.

6932. al a route: so iv. 2145, cp. l. 6257, ‘al a compainie.’

[Pg 509]

7013. Cp. Mirour, 7181 ff.

7048. This is a nautical metaphor, ‘so near the wind will they steer.’ The verb ‘love’ is the modern ‘luff,’ meaning to bring a ship’s head towards the wind. The substantive ‘lof’ (genit. ‘loves’) means in ME. a rudder or some similar contrivance for turning the ship, and ‘love’ here seems to mean simply to steer. The rhyme with ‘glove’ makes ‘love’ from ‘lufian’ out of the question, even if it gave a satisfactory sense.

7140. gon offre. The ceremony of ‘offering’ after mass was one which involved a good deal of etiquette as regards precedence and so on, cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, A 449 ff., and ladies apparently were led up to the altar on these occasions by their cavaliers.

7179. ‘If I might manage in any other way,’ like the expression ‘(I cannot) away with,’ &c.

7195 ff. The story comes no doubt from Benoît, Rom. de Troie, 2851-4916, where it is told at much greater length. Guido does not differ much as regards the incidents related by Gower, but by comparing the two texts in some particular places we can tell without much difficulty which was Gower’s source. For example, in the speech of Hector Benoît has,

‘Veez Europe que il ont,

La tierce partie del mont,

Où sont li meillor chevalier.’ 3791 ff.,

while Guido says, ‘Nostis enim ... totam Affricam et Europam hodie Grecis esse subiectam, quanta Greci multitudine militum sunt suffulti,’ &c. See below, 7340 ff.

The story is told by Gower with good judgement, and he freely omits unnecessary details, as those of the mission of Antenor to Greece. The debate in Priam’s parliament is shortened, and the speeches of Hector and Paris much improved.

7197 ff. Cp. 3303 ff.

7202. The sentence is broken off and resumed in a different form: see note on i. 98.

7015* ff. Cp. Mirour, 7156 ff.

7033*. And that, i. e. ‘And provided that.’

7092*. See note on l. 6634.

7105* ff. The tale is told also in the Mirour de l’Omme, 7093-7128. It is to be found in the Gesta Romanorum (which however is not Gower’s source), and in various other places. Cicero tells what is practically the same story of Dionysius of Syracuse (De Nat. Deorum, iii. 34), but the acts of sacrilege were committed by him in various places. The golden mantle was taken from the statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the beard from that of Aesculapius at Epidaurus, the justification in this latter case being that Apollo, the father of Aesculapius, was always represented without a beard. Those who repeated the anecdote in the Middle Ages naturally missed this point. We may note that Dyonis is the name given in the Mirour.

[Pg 510]

7213 ff. Cp. Rom. de Troie, 2779 ff.

7235 ff. Rom. de Troie, 3029 ff. Gower has judiciously cut short the architectural details.

7275. Esionam: see note on l. 6719.

7307. in his yhte, ‘in his possession.’ For the substance of these lines cp. Rom. de Troie, 2915-2950.

7372. schape ye, imperative, for schapeth; so ‘Sey ye’ in l. 7435.

7377. Strong thing, i. e. a hard thing to bear. This is apparently a translation of the French ‘fort,’ which was very commonly used in the sense of ‘difficult’: see the examples in Godefroy’s Dictionary, e. g. ‘forte chose est de çou croire,’ ‘fors choses est a toi guerroier ancontre moi.’

7390 ff. ‘Ten men have been seen to deal with a hundred and to have had the better.’

7400. Rom. de Troie, 3842, ‘L’autrier ès kalendes de Mai,’ &c. The word ‘ender’ is an adjective meaning ‘former,’ originally perhaps an adverb. It is used only in the expressions ‘ender day’ and ‘ender night.’ The combination ‘enderday’ occurs in i. 98.

7420. Rom. de Troie, 3889 f.,

‘Cascune conseilla à mei

Privéement et en segrei,’ &c.

7451 ff. For Cassandra as the Sibyl cp. Godfrey of Viterbo, Pantheon, p. 214 (ed. 1584).

7497 f.

‘Molt est isnele Renommée,

Savoir fist tost par la contrée,’ &c.

Rom. de Troie, 4299 ff.

7555 ff. The further incidents of the embarkation and of the voyage home, Rom. de Troie, 4505-4832, are omitted.

7576 f. Cp. Rom. de Troie, 4867 ff.

7591 ff. This incident is related in the Rom. de Troie, 17457 ff. The occasion was an anniversary celebration at the tomb of Hector, and though the temple of Apollo is not actually named here by Benoît, it has been previously described at large as Hector’s burial place.

7597 ff. The scene in Chaucer’s Troilus, i. 155 ff., is well known. He took it from Boccaccio.

7612. In the treatment of Avarice Gower has departed entirely from the plan of fivefold division which he follows in the first three books, as throughout in the Mirour. In the sixth book he deliberately declines to deal with more than two of the branches of Gule (vi. 12f.), and the treatment of Lechery is also irregular.

7651. here tuo debat, i. e. the strife of those two.

7716. the Cote for the hod: that is, he gets a return larger than the amount that he gave; a different form of the expression from that which we have in l. 4787.

7719. hors: probably plural in both cases.

7724. ‘If a man will go by the safe way.’

[Pg 511]

7736 ff. This saying is not really quoted from Seneca, but from Caecilius Balbus, Nug. Phil. xi. It must have been in Chaucer’s mind when he wrote ‘Suffice unto thy good, though it be smal,’ that is, ‘Adapt thy life to thy worldly fortune.’

7830 f. I take this to mean, ‘And suddenly to meet his flowers the summer appears and is rich.’ For the meaning of ‘hapneth’ see the examples in the New English Dictionary.

7838. be war: written as one word in F and afterwards divided by a stroke.

LIB. VI.

Latin Verses. i. 6. ruit seems to be transitive, ‘casts down.’

i. 7. Rather involved in order: ‘on the lips which Bacchus intoxicates and which are plunged in sleep.’

4. mystymed, ‘unhappily produced.’ In other places, as i. 220, iii. 2458, the word seems to mean to order or arrange wrongly. The OE. ‘mistīmian’ means to happen amiss.

7. dedly, ‘mortal,’ i. e. subject to death.

34. wext, ‘he waxeth’: for the omission of the pronoun see note on i. 1895 and cp. ll. 149, 213, 367, below.

57. For the form of expression cp. i. 380, ii. 2437, and below, l. 106.

59. sterte is for ‘stert,’ pres. tense.

70. in vers, that is ‘in order.’ The word ‘vers’ is given in Godefroy’s Dictionary with the sense ‘state,’ ‘situation’; e. g. Rom. de la Rose, 9523 ff.,

‘Malement est changies li vers,

Or li vient li gieus si divers,

Qu’el ne puet ne n’ose joer.’

71 f. Cp. Mirour, 8246 f.

84. the jolif wo: cp. i. 88, vii. 1910, and Balades, xii. 4, ‘Si porte ades le jolif mal sanz cure.’

105. of such a thew, ‘by such a habit’ (i. e. of love), to be taken with ‘dronkelew.’

144. hovedance, ‘court dance’: see New Eng. Dictionary.

145. the newefot: written thus as one word in S and F: it must be regarded as the name of some dance.

160. it am noght I: cp. Chaucer, Leg. of G. Women, 314, ‘sir, hit am I,’ Cant. Tales, A 1736, &c.

188. holde forth the lusti route: perhaps simply, ‘continue to be with the merry company.’ See ‘forth’ in the Glossary.

218. vernage: the same wine that is called ‘gernache’ or ‘garnache’ in the Mirour de l’Omme, ‘vernaccia’ in Italian, but whether a wine of Italy or Greece seems uncertain.

221. at myn above: see note on iv. 914.

239. the blanche fievere: cp. Chaucer, Troilus, i. 916, with Skeat’s note.

249. Cp. Chaucer, Troilus, i. 420, ‘For hete of cold, for cold of hete, I dye.’

[Pg 512]

253. of such reles: this seems to men ‘of such strength,’ and ‘relais’ perhaps has a somewhat similar sense in Mirour, 3021,

‘C’est droit qu’il sente le relais

De la tempeste et de l’orage.’

As in the modern ‘relay,’ the idea of ceasing or of relaxation may be accompanied by the notion of fresh vigour taking the place of exhaustion, and so the word may stand simply for strength or freshness.

If this explanation is not admissible, we must suppose that ‘reles’ means here the power of relaxing or dissolving.

285 f. Cp. Rom. de la Rose, 4326 f.,

‘C’est la soif qui tous jors est ivre,

Yvrece qui de soif s’enyvre.’

290. liste: perhaps pret. subjunctive; so l. 606, and ‘leste,’ 357.

296. be the bend, i. e. ‘by the band,’ at his girdle.

311 f. ‘This for the time alleviates the pain for him who has no other joy.’ ‘As for the time yit’ means simply ‘for the time,’ cp. ll. 738, 893.

321. For ‘men’ with singular verb cp. ii. 659, v. 5510, 6045, vii. 1352, and Chaucer, Cant. Tales, A 149, &c.

330 ff. Cp. viii. 2252 ff. and. Traitié, xv. 2. The poet referred to in the margin is perhaps Homer, who is quoted in the Rom. de la Rose as authority for an arrangement somewhat similar to that described here:

‘Jupiter en toute saison

A sor le suel de sa maison,

Ce dit Omers, deus plains tonneaus;

Si n’est viex hons ne garçonneaus,

N’il n’est dame ne damoisele,

Soit vielle ou jone, laide ou bele,

Qui vie en ce monde reçoive,

Qui de ces deus tonneaus ne boive.

C’est une taverne planière,

Dont Fortune la tavernière

Trait aluine et piment en coupes’ &c. 6836 ff. (ed. Méon).

Gower has applied the idea especially to the subject of love, and has made Cupid the butler instead of Fortune. The basis in Homer is Il. xxiv. 527 ff.,

δοιοὶ γάρ τε πίθοι κατακείαται ἐν Διὸς οὔδει, κ.τ.λ.

360. trouble is properly an adjective, cp. v. 4160. The corrupt reading ‘chere’ for ‘cler’ has hitherto obscured the sense.

399 ff. This story of Bacchus is told by Hyginus, Poet. Astr. ii, under the heading ‘Aries.’

437. a riche temple. This was the temple of Jupiter Ammon.

439. ‘To remind thirsty men’ of the power of prayer.

485 ff. The story is from Ovid, Metam. xii. 210 ff.

502 f. thilke tonne drouh, wherof, &c., ‘drew such wine for them[Pg 513] that by it,’ &c. See note on i. 771 and cp. ll. 618 and 1249 of this book.

537. I do not know what authority is referred to.

598. unteid, ‘set free,’ so ‘wandering abroad.’

609. The name of this second branch of Gluttony has not been mentioned before.

632 f. ‘so long as he has wealth by which he may be provided with the means.’ For the use of ‘founde’ cp. v. 2690 and Chaucer, Cant. Tales, C 537, ‘How gret labour and cost is thee to fynde!’ (addressing the belly).

640. for the point of his relief, ‘in order to please him,’ so below ‘he is noght relieved,’ l. 678.

656. toke, subjunctive, ‘how he should take it.’

662. After this line a couplet is inserted by Pauli from the Harleian MS. 7184 (H₃),

To take metes and drinkes newe,

For it shulde alwey eschewe.’

The lines are nonsense and have no metre. They come originally from K, the copyist of which apparently inserted them out of his own head, to fill up a space left by the accidental omission of two lines (645 f.) a little above in the same column. He was making his book correspond column for column with the copy, and therefore discovered his mistake when he reached the bottom, but did not care to draw attention to it by inserting what he had omitted.

663. ‘Physique’ is apparently meant for the Physics of Aristotle, and something very like this maxim is to be found there, but the quotation, ‘Consuetudo est altera natura,’ is actually taken from the Secretum Secretorum (ed. 1520, f. 21).

664. The transposition after this line of the passage ll. 665-964, which occurs in MSS. of the second recension, is not accidental, as we see by the arrangements made afterwards for fitting in the passage (l. 1146). The object apparently was to lay down the principle ‘Delicie corporis militant aduersus animam,’ illustrated by the parable of Dives and Lazarus, before proceeding to the discussion of ‘Delicacie’ in the case of love, and this is perhaps the more logical arrangement; but the alteration, as it is made, involves breaking off the discussion here of the ill effects of change, and resuming it after an interval of nearly two hundred lines.

674. Avise hem wel, i. e. ‘let them take good heed.’

683. ‘Without regard to her honour’: cp. Balades, xxii. 4, ‘Salvant toutdis l’estat de vostre honour.’

709. abeched, from the French ‘abechier,’ to feed, used properly of feeding young birds. The word ‘refreched’ is conformed to it in spelling.

728. The reading of Pauli, ‘I say I am nought gilteles,’ just reverses the sense. Berthelette has the text right here.

[Pg 514]

738. for a time yit: cp. 311, ‘As for the time yit,’ and 893, ‘As for the while yit.’

770. ‘Without wrinkle of any kind,’ cp. Mirour, 10164, ‘Car moult furont de noble grein’; or perhaps ‘Without the smallest wrinkle,’ ‘grein’ being taken to stand for the smallest quantity of a thing: cp. ii. 3310.

778. Cp. Chaucer, Book of the Duchess, 939 ff.

785. schapthe. For this form, which is given by S and F, cp. the word ‘ssepþe,’ meaning ‘creature’ or ‘form,’ which occurs repeatedly in the Ayenbite of Inwyt.

800. ‘And if it seemed so to all others.’ The person spoken of throughout this passage as ‘he,’ ‘him,’ is the eye of the lover. This seems to itself to have sufficient sustenance by merely gazing on the beloved object, and if it seemed so to all others also, that is, to the other senses, the eye would never cease to feed upon the sight: but they, having other needs, compel it to turn away.

809. as thogh he faste: the verb seems to be pret. subjunctive, as ‘syhe’ down below.

817. tireth. This expresses the action of a falcon pulling at its prey: cp. Chaucer, Troilus, i. 787, ‘Whos stomak foules tiren everemo.’ The word is used in the same sense also in the Mirour, 7731.

845. mi ladi goode, ‘my lady’s goodness.’

857. Lombard cooks were celebrated, and there was a kind of pastry called ‘pain lumbard,’ Mirour, 7809.

879. The romance of Ydoine and Amadas is one of those mentioned at the beginning of the Cursor Mundi. It has been published in the ‘Collection des poètes français du moyen âge’ (ed. Hippeau, 1863). Amadas is the type of the lover who remains faithful through every kind of trial.

891. a cherie feste: cp. Prol. 454. It is an expression used for pleasures that last but a short time: cp. Audelay’s Poems (Percy Soc. xiv) p. 22,

‘Hit fallus and fadys forth so doth a chere fayre’

(speaking of the glory of this world).

893. Cp. 311, 738.

897. he, i. e. my ear.

908. me lacketh: the singular form is due perhaps to the use of the verb impersonally in many cases.

961. excede, subjunctive, ‘so as to go beyond reason.’

986 ff. This story furnishes a favourable example of our author’s style and versification. It is told simply and clearly, and the verse is not only smooth and easy, but carefully preserved from monotony by the breaking of the couplet very frequently at the pauses: see 986, 998, 1006, 1010, 1016, &c.

995. We have remarked already upon Gower’s fatalism, iii. 1348, &c. Here we may refer also to ll. 1026, 1613, 1702, for further indications of the same tendency.

[Pg 515]

1059. is overronne, that is, ‘has passed beyond.’

1110. descryve, apparently ‘understand,’ ‘discern,’ perhaps by that confusion with ‘descry’ which is noted in the New Engl. Dictionary.

1149 f. These two lines are omitted without authority by Pauli.

1176. That is, though they had rendered no services for which they ought to be so distinguished.

1180. sojorned: the word is used in French especially of a horse kept in stable at rack and manger and refreshed for work: see Mirour, Glossary.

1216. ‘So that that pleasure should not escape him.’

1245. out of feere, ‘without fear.’

1262. unwar, here ‘unknown’: cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, B 427, ‘The unwar wo or harm that comth behinde.’

1295. Originally geomancy seems to have been performed, as suggested in this passage, by marks made in sand or earth, then by casual dots on paper: see the quotations under ‘geomancy’ in the New Engl. Dictionary. Gower here mentions the four recognized kinds of divination, by the elements of earth, water, fire, and air.

1306 ff. It is practically certain that Gower was acquainted with the treatise ascribed to Albertus Magnus, called Speculum Astronomiae or De libris licitis et illicitis (Alberti Magni Opera, v. 655 ff.), since he seems to follow it to a great extent not only here, but also in his list of early astronomers (vii. 1449 ff.). There are however some things here which he must have had from other sources; for there is no mention in the above-mentioned treatise of ‘Spatula,’ ‘Babilla,’ ‘Cernes,’ ‘Honorius.’

1312. comun rote, that is, apparently, ‘common custom.’ The word ‘rote’ is used also below, l. 1457, where it appears to mean ‘condition.’ It must be the same as that which appears in the phrase ‘by rote,’ and it is difficult to believe that it can be the French ‘route,’ as is usually said. The rhyme here and in l. 1457, as well as those in Chaucer (with ‘cote,’ ‘note’), show that the ‘o’ had an open sound, and this would be almost impossible from French ‘ou.’ The expression ‘par routine’ or ‘par rotine’ is given by Cotgrave as equivalent to the English ‘by rote,’ but I am not aware of any use of such an expression in French as early as the fourteenth century. Many of the examples of the phrase ‘by rote’ seem to have to do with singing or church services (cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, B 1712, Piers Plowmans Crede, 379), and Du Cange gives a quotation in which ‘rotae’ seems to mean ‘chants’ or ‘hymns’ (‘rota,’ 6). From such a sense as this the idea of a regular order of service, and thence of ‘custom,’ ‘habit,’ might without much difficulty arise.

1314 ff. The following passage from the Spec. Astronomiae, cap. 10, gives most of the names and terms which occur in these lines: ‘Ex libris vero Toz Graeci est liber de stationibus ad cultum Veneris, qui sic incipit: Commemoratio historiarum ... Ex libris autem Salomonis est liber de quatuor anulis, quem intitulat nominibus quatuor discipulorum suorum, qui sic incipit: De arte eutonica et ideica, &c. Et liber[Pg 516] de nouem candariis.... Et alius paruus de sigillis ad dæmoniacos, qui sic incipit: Caput sigilli gendal et tanchil.’

1316. Razel. ‘Est autem unus liber magnus Razielis, qui dicitur liber institutionum,’ &c. In MS. Ashmole 1730 there is a letter to Dr. Richard Napier from his nephew at Oxford, speaking of a book of Solomon in the University Library called Cephar Raziel, that is, he explains, ‘Angelus magnus secreti Creatoris,’ of which he proposes to make a copy, having obtained means of entering the library at forbidden hours. Again, in MS. Ashmole 1790 there is a description of this book.

1320. ‘cui adiungitur liber Beleni de horarum opere,’ Spec. Astron. p. 661. The seal of Ghenbal is the ‘sigillum gendal,’ mentioned in the former citation.

1321 f. thymage Of Thebith. Thebith (or Thebit) stands for Thabet son of Corah, a distinguished Arabian mathematician, to whom were attributed certain works on astrology and magic that were current in Latin. Thus we find Thebit de imaginibus very commonly in MSS., and a Liber Thebit ben Corat de tribus imaginibus magicis was printed in 1559 at Frankfort. In this latter book the author says, ‘Exercentur quoque hae imagines in amore vel odio, si fuerit actor earum prouidus et sapiens in motibus coeli ad hoc utilibus.’ Thebith is mentioned several times in the Spec. Astronomiae, e. g. p. 662, ‘Super istis imaginibus reperitur unus liber Thebith eben Chorath,’ &c. We must take ‘therupon’ in l. 1321 to mean ‘moreover,’ for it is not to be supposed that the image of Thebith was upon the seal of Ghenbal.

1338. The ‘Naturiens’ are those who pursue the methods of astrology, as opposed to those who practise necromancy (‘nigromance’) or black magic.

1356. He bede nevere: see note on v. 4455.

1359. red, originally written ‘rede’ in F, but the final letter was afterwards erased. See Introduction, p. cxiv.

1371 f. The rhyme requires that ‘become,’ ‘overcome’ shall either be both present or both preterite (subjunctive), and ‘wonne’ seems to decide the matter for preterite. The only difficulty is ‘have I’ for ‘hadde I’ in l. 1370, the latter being required also by the sense (for the reference is to the former time of youth), but not given by the MSS. ‘So that I wonne’ means ‘Provided that I won.’

1391 ff. This story is from the Roman de Troie, 28571-28666, 29629-30092. Guido does not differ as to the main points, but there are several details given by Gower from Benoît which are not found in Guido. In particular the ensign carried by Telegonus is mentioned by Guido only in telling of the dream of Ulysses. Some of the passages which tend to show that Benoît was our author’s authority are noted below.

1408. al the strengthe of herbes: a poem De Viribus Herbarum passed in the Middle Ages under the name of Macer.

[Pg 517]

1422. The mention of ‘nedle and ston’ in this connexion is a rather daring anachronism, for which of course Gower is responsible.

1424. Cilly. Benoît says ‘les isles d’Oloi,’ and Guido ‘in Eolidem insulam,’ but Sicily has been mentioned shortly before.

1438 f. Cp. Rom. de Troie, 28594 ff. Guido does not mention it.

1441. ‘S’el sot des arz, il en sot plus,’ Rom. de Troie, 28641.

1445 ff. Benoît says nothing of this, but the story of the adventures of Ulysses was to some extent matter of common knowledge in the Middle Ages. Gower may have had it from Ovid, Metam. xiv. 277 ff. Guido says in a general way that Circe was in the habit of transforming those who resisted her power into beasts.

1457. into such a rote, that is, ‘into such a habit’ (or ‘condition’): see note on l. 1312.

1467. toswolle bothe sides, ‘with both her sides swollen’: cp. Rom. de Troie, 28660 f.,

‘Et si li lesse les costez

Toz pleins, ço quit, de vif enfant.’

1474. understode: subj., see note on Prol. 460.

1481. on of al the beste, see note on iv. 2606.

1513 f. margin. This quotation is not from Horace, but from Ovid, Pont. iv. 3. 35. Cp. Mirour, 10948, where the same quotation occurs and is attributed as here to ‘Orace.’

1524. The form ‘stature’ is required by the metre here, and is given by the best MSS. of the second and third recensions. In Prol. 891, where ‘statue’ occurs, it is reduced to a monosyllable by elision, and so it is in Chaucer, Cant. Tales, A 975, 1955. The forms ‘statura,’ ‘stature,’ are found with this sense in the Latin and French of the time.

1541 ff.

‘Et si me disoit: Hulixes

Saiches, ceste conjuncions,

Cist voloir, ceste asembloisons,

Que de moi et de toi desirres,

Ce sunt dolors et mortex ires.’

Rom. de Troie, 29670 ff.

The prediction, however, that one of the two would have his death by reason of their meeting comes later, 29699, whereas Guido combines the materials here much in the same way as Gower.

1552 ff. This idea of a pennon embroidered with a device is Gower’s own conception, constructed from the not very clear or satisfactory account of the matter given by his authority here and later, 29819 ff. The fact is that Benoît did not understand the expression used in the Latin book (the so-called ‘Dictys Cretensis’) which he was here following, the passage being probably corrupt in his copy, and consequently failed to make it intelligible to his readers. The original statement (made with reference to the ensign carried afterwards by Telegonus) is, ‘Ithacam venit gerens manibus quoddam hastile, cui summitas[Pg 518] marinae turturis osse armabatur, scilicet insigne insulae eius in qua genitus erat.’ The meaning apparently is that his spearhead was made of a sea-turtle’s shell. Benoît, in recounting the vision, says that the figure which appeared bore upon the steel head of his lance a crown worked of the bone of a sea-fish,

‘Portoit une coronne ovrée

D’os de poisson de mer salée.’ 29687 f.

Then afterwards, in telling of the departure of Telegonus to seek his father, he says that, to show of what country he was, he bore on the top of his lance the sign of a sea-fish worked like a tower,

‘En semblance de tor ovrée.’ 29822.

Guido apparently was not able to make much of this, and after saying, in the account of the dream, that at the top of the lance there appeared ‘quedam turricula tota ex piscibus artificiose composita’ (Bodl. MS. Laud 645, with variants ‘craticula,’ MS. Add. 365, ‘curricula,’ printed editions), he subsequently omitted mention of the recognisance.

1561 f. A signe it is ... Of an Empire. Benoît has,

‘Que c’iert d’ampire conoissance

Et si aperte demostrance

Que por ce seroient devis,’ &c. 29695 ff.,

which may perhaps mean, ‘that it was the cognisance of a kingdom and a sign that they should be divided.’ In Guido, however, it is ‘hoc est signum impie disiunccionis’ (MS. Laud 645 and printed text), or ‘hoc est signum impii et disiunccionis’ (MS. Add. 365).

1567 f. Cp. 2296 ff.

1603 ff. For the order of the clauses here cp. ii. 709, iv. 3520 ff.

1622 ff. That, for ‘Til that’; cp. iv. 3273, v. 3422.

1636. ‘And he made himself ready forthwith.’ For the omission of the pronoun even where the subject is changed cp. v. 3291, 4590.

1637 ff. Cp. Rom. de Troie, 29824 ff. Guido says nothing about it.

1643. That is, ‘to avoid espial and wrong suspicions.’

1656. Rom. de Troie, 29801 f.,

‘A Hulyxes, qui fut ses druz,

Mande par lui v. c. saluz.’

Guido says nothing about this.

1660. Nachaie, a mistake for ‘Acaie,’

‘Tant qu’il vint droit en Acaie’;

and this again seems to be from ‘Ithaca.’

1685. and welnyh ded: cp. Rom. de Troie, 29906 f. Guido says only ‘et ab illis est grauiter vulneratus.’

1689. Gower has judiciously reduced the number from fifteen (Rom. de Troie, 29902).

1696. for wroth, that is, ‘by reason that he was wroth’: see note on iv. 1330. We can hardly take ‘wroth’ as a substantive.

[Pg 519]

1701. ‘Se il ne fust un poi guenchiz,’ Rom. de Troie, 29939.

1707. With al the signe, ‘together with the signe,’ like the French ‘ove tout’; cp. Mirour 4 (note).

1745 f. Rom. de Troie, 30022 ff. Guido omits this.

1769 ff. For this repetition cp. 2095 ff.

1785. The ‘Cronique imperial’ is evidently the story itself, and not any particular book in which it is to be found.

1789 ff. The authority which is mainly followed by our author for this story is the Anglo-Norman Roman de toute Chevalerie, by Eustace (or Thomas) of Kent. The beginning of this, including all that we have to do with here, has been printed by M. Paul Meyer in his book on the Alexander romances, ‘Bibliothèque française du moyen âge’ vol. iv. pp. 195-216. Gower was acquainted, however, also with the Latin Historia Alexandri de Preliis, and has made use of this in certain places, as (1) in the account of Philip’s vision (2129-2170) where he probably found the French unintelligible, and (2) in the story of the death of Nectanabus (2289 ff.), of which the Latin authority certainly gives the more satisfactory account.

The following are some of the points in which Gower agrees with the Roman de toute Chevalerie against the two Latin versions of the story, viz. the Historia de Preliis and the Res Gestae Alexandri of Valerius: (1) the celebration by Olympias of the festival of her nativity, when she rides out on a white mule and is first seen by Nectanabus, ll. 1823-1880; (2) the omission of the sealing of the queen’s womb by Nectanabus, this being introduced only in Philip’s vision; (3) the question of the queen as to how she shall procure further interviews with the god, and the answer of Nectanabus, ll. 2109 ff.; (4) the circumstances connected with the egg from which the serpent was hatched, ll. 2219 ff. The English metrical Romance of Alexander, printed by Weber, is also taken from the Roman de toute Chevalerie, and consequently the details of it are for the most part the same as those in Gower. It is certain, however, that Gower does not follow this. It would be quite contrary to his practice to follow an English authority, and apart from this there are many small matters here in which he agrees with the French as against the English, e. g. the name Nectanabus, which is Neptanabus in the English (Anectanabus in the Hist. de Preliis), the mention of the nativity of Olympias as the occasion of her festival, ‘Grant feste tint la dame de sa nativité,’ the use of the word ‘artemage,’ l. 1957, the incident of the dragon being changed into an eagle, l. 2200; and such points of correspondence as may seem to suggest a connexion between the two English writers, as in ll. 1844 f., 2231 f., are also to be found in the French. The English alliterative Romance of Alexander follows the Hist. de Preliis, and consequently it agrees with Gower in the two passages which have been referred to above.

1798. The sentence is broken off and finished in a different manner. See note on i. 98, and cp. vii. 3632.

1811. Thre yomen, &c. This is an addition by Gower. According to[Pg 520] the original story Nectanabus was alone, and this would evidently be the better for his purpose.

1828. list. This may be present tense, ‘it pleases.’ Loss of the final e in the preterite would hardly occur except before a vowel: see Introduction, p. cxv. The French original lays stress here on the extravagant desire that women have to display themselves.

1831. At after, i. e. ‘After,’ used especially of meals, cp. l. 1181, and Chaucer, Cant. Tales, B 1445, F 918 ‘at after diner,’ E 1921 ‘At after mete,’ F 302, 1219 ‘At after soper,’ for which references, as for many others elsewhere, I am indebted to Prof. Skeat’s very useful Glossary.

1844 f. The French has

‘E tymbres e tabours ont e leur corns corné,’ 130,

and later

‘Plus de mil damoisels ount le jur karolé, 140.

The English version of the second line,

‘There was maidenes carolying,’

comes very near to Gower.

1924. Bot if I sihe, ‘unless I should see,’ pret. subj.

1943 ff. This promise is not in the French.

1959 ff. The astrological terms in these lines are due to Gower. The original says that Nectanabus laid the image in a bed with candles lighted round it, bathed it in the juice of certain herbs, and said his charms over it.

1997. such thing ... Wherof: cp. ll. 502, 2398.

2005 f.

‘Nectanabus idunc ses karectes fina.’

2062. putte him. We should rather read ‘put him’ with S and F: see Introduction, p. cxvi. The French romance here grotesquely represents Nectanabus as making up a disguise for himself with a ram’s head and a dragon’s tail, which he joins together with wax, ‘e puis dedens se mist.’ The Latin Hist. de Preliis says simply that he changed himself into a dragon.

2074 ff. The French has,

‘Une pel de moton ouvec les cornes prist,

Une coroune d’or sur les cornes assist.’

The punctuation after ‘tok’ is that of F, but I suspect that ‘in signe of his noblesse’ belongs really in sense to 2076 f., and refers rather to the crown than to the horns, in which case we ought to set a full stop after ‘bar.’

2113. seth hire grone, that is, in child-bed.

2128 ff. The French romance, following Valerius in the main, gives a rather confused account of Philip’s dream. Gower has turned from it to the Historia de Preliis.

2160. Amphion. The name apparently is got from ‘Antifon,’ which occurs below in connexion with the incident of the pheasant’s egg.

[Pg 521]

2182. rampende. The French has ‘mult fierement rampant.’

2199 ff. The transformation into an eagle is found in Valerius and the French romance, and not in the Hist. de Preliis. It may be noted, however, that the picturesque description which we have here of the eagle pruning himself and then shaking his feathers, so that the hall was moved as by an earthquake, is Gower’s own.

2219 ff. The Latin accounts say that a bird, according to Valerius a hen, came and laid an egg in Philip’s lap as he sat in his hall. The Rom. de toute Chevalerie makes the incident take place out in the fields, and the bird, as here, is a pheasant. The expression used, ‘Un oef laissat chaïr sur les curs Phelippun,’ seems to mean that the egg was laid in Philip’s lap. There is nothing about the heat of the sun in the Latin versions.

2250 ff. These lines refer to the precautions taken by Nectanabus to secure that the child shall be born precisely at the right astrological moment: cp. Rom. de toute Chevalerie, 401-425. Gower has chosen to omit the details.

2274. Calistre, i. e. Callisthenes, who was reputed to be the author of the history of Alexander which Valerius translated.

2299 ff. The question of Alexander and the answer of Nectanabus is given as here in the Hist. de Preliis. In Valerius and the French romance Alexander throws Nectanabus down merely in order to surprise him, and the suggestion that Nectanabus knew that he should die by the hands of his son is not made till afterwards.

2368. Zorastes. The statement here about the laughter of Zoroaster at his birth is ultimately derived from Pliny, Hist. Nat. vii. 15. It is repeated by Augustine, with the addition ‘nec ei boni aliquid monstrosus risus ille portendit. Nam magicarum artium fuisse perhibetur inventor; quae quidem illi nec ad praesentis vitae vanam felicitatem contra suos inimicos prodesse potuerunt; a Nino quippe rege Assyriorum, cum esset ipse Bactrianorum, bello superatus est’ (De Civ. Dei, xxi. 14).

2381. ‘Like wool which is ill spun’: cp. i. 10.

2387. Phitonesse, cp. iv. 1937.

2411. betawht To Aristotle, ‘delivered over to Aristotle’: ‘betawht’ is the past partic. of ‘beteche,’ which occurs afterwards, vii. 4234, and in Chaucer, Cant. Tales, B 2114, ‘Now such a rym the devel I beteche.’

2418. Yit for a time: to be taken as one phrase; cp. ‘for a while yit,’ &c., ll. 311, 738, 893.

LIB. VII.

The account given in the earlier part of this book of the parts of Philosophy, that is, of the objects of human knowledge, represents in its essentials the Aristotelian system. The division into ‘Theorique,’[Pg 522] ‘Rethorique,’ and ‘Practique’ is in effect the same as Aristotle’s classification of knowledge as Theoretical, Poetical, and Practical, and the further division of ‘Theorique’ into Theology, Physics, and Mathematics, and of ‘Practique’ into Ethics, Economics, and Politics, is that which is made by Aristotle. The statement of Pauli and others that this part of Gower’s work is ‘very likely borrowed’ from the Secretum Secretorum is absolutely unfounded. This treatise is not in any sense an exposition of the Aristotelian philosophy, indeed it is largely made up of rules for diet and regimen with medical prescriptions. Gower is indebted to it only in a slight degree, and principally in two places, vii. 2014-2057, the discussion of Liberality in a king, and 3207*-3360*, the tale of the Jew and the Pagan.

The most important authority, however, for the earlier part of the seventh book has hitherto been overlooked. It is the Trésor of Brunetto Latini. This book is very largely based upon Aristotle, with whose works Latini was exceptionally well acquainted, and it is from this that Gower takes his classification of the sciences, though in regard to the place of Rhetoric he does not quite agree with Latini, who brings it in under the head of ‘Politique,’ making Logic the third main branch of philosophy. Gower takes from the Trésor also many of his physical and geographical statements and his reference to the debate on the conspiracy of Catiline. On the other hand his astronomy is for the most part independent of the Trésor, and so also is his method of dealing with the principles of Government, under the five points of Policy. Brunetto Latini does not treat of politics generally so much as of the practical rules to be observed by the Podestà of an Italian republic. It may be observed that Gower has drawn on the Trésor also in the sketch of general history given in the Prologue (ll. 727-820). I refer to pages of the edition of Chabaille, 1863.

26 ff. ‘As to which Aristotle ... declares the “intelligences” under three heads especially.’ The meaning of ‘intelligences’ here and in l. 176, and of ‘intelligencias’ in the margin, l. 149, seems to be nearly the same as ‘sciences,’ that is to say, divisions or provinces of knowledge.

155. Algorisme. This stands properly for the decimal system of numeration, but the use of the word in the plural, l. 158, shows that Gower did not use it in this sense only. The association of the word ‘Algorismes’ below with the letters a, b, c (‘Abece’) seems to suggest some kind of algebraical expression, but this is perhaps due to a misunderstanding by Gower of the word ‘abaque’ (or ‘abake’) in the Trésor, p. 6: ‘Et de ce sont li enseignement de l’abaque et de l’augorisme.’

183 ff. ‘Ce est la science par laquele li vii sage s’esforcierent par soutillece de geometrie de trover la grandeur dou ciel et de la terre, et la hautesce entre l’un et l’autre.’ Trésor, pp. 6, 7.

207 ff. Cp. Trésor, p. 15, ‘Cele matiere de quoi ces choses furent formées les desvance de naissance, non mie de tens, autressi comme li[Pg 523] sons est devant le chant, ... et neporquant andui sont ensemble.’ Cp. pp. 104, 105.

216. Ylem, this is ‘hyle’ (Gr. ὕλη), the Aristotelian term for matter. For what follows cp. Trésor, p. 105.

245. This comparison of the movement of water within the earth to the circulation of blood in the veins, is taken from the Trésor, p. 115: ‘autressi comme li sangs de l’ome qui s’espant par ses vaines, si que il encherche tout le cors amont et aval.’

256 ff. Cp. Trésor, p. 117.

265 ff. This which follows about the Air seems to be partly independent of the Trésor, and the word ‘periferie’ is not there used. Aristotle divides the atmosphere into two regions only, that of ἀτμίς or moist vapour, corresponding to the first and second periferies here, and that of exhalation (ἀναθυμίασις) or fiery vapour, corresponding to the third, Meteor. i. 3.

283 f. ‘According to the condition under which they take their form.’ I suppose the word ‘intersticion’ to be taken from ‘interstitium,’ as used with a technical sense in astrology. Albumasar, for example, says, ‘Quicquid in hoc mundo nascitur et occidit ex quatuor elementis est compositum, tribus interstitiis educatum, scilicet principio, medio et fine, quae tria in illa quatuor ducta duodecim producunt.’ This is the cause, he says, why there are twelve signs of the zodiac, ‘Praesunt siquidem haec signa quatuor elementis eorumque tribus interstitiis.’ He then explains that the first ‘interstitium’ of each element is that condition of it which is favourable to production, growth and vigour, the second that which is stationary, and the third that which tends to decay and corruption, so that the word is almost equivalent to condition or quality. (Vincent of Beauvais, Spec. Nat. xv. 36.)

302. Cp. Trésor, p. 119, ‘mais li fors deboutemenz dou vent la destraint et chace si roidement que ele fent et passe les nues et fait toner et espartir.’

307 ff. Cp. Trésor, p. 120.

323 ff. Trésor, p. 120, ‘dont aucunes gens cuident que ce soit li dragons ou que ce soit une estele qui chiet.’ What follows about ‘exhalations’ is not from the Trésor.

334. Assub. This word is used in Latin translations of Aristotle as an equivalent of ‘stella cadens.’

339. exalacion. This stands for fiery vapour only, originally a translation of Aristotle’s ἀναθυμίασις.

351 ff. The names ‘Eges’ and ‘Daaly’ (l. 361), must be taken originally from Aristotle’s expression δαλοὶ καὶ αἶγες, which he says are names given by some people to various forms of fire in the sky, Meteor. i. 4. Our author simply repeated the terms after his authorities and without understanding them. In fact, ‘Eges’ stands for the same as the ‘Capra saliens’ of the preceding lines.

389. The idea of the four complexions of man, corresponding to the[Pg 524] four elements, is not due to Aristotle, but we find it in the Trésor. The application to matters of love in ll. 393-440 is presumably Gower’s own.

405 f. Aristotle says on the contrary, οἱ μελαγχολικοὶ οἱ πλεῖστοι λάγνοι εἰσίν, Probl. 30.

437. To thenke. For this use of ‘may’ with the gerund cp. ii. 510, ‘I myhte noght To soffre.’

510. ‘While the flesh has power to act,’ that is during the life of the body.

521 ff. For the geography which follows cp. Trésor, pp. 151-153.

534. the hevene cope: cp. l. 1579, ‘under the coupe of hevene,’ where the spelling suggests the Latin ‘cupa,’ rather than ‘capa,’ as the origin of the word in this common phrase. The quality of the ‘o’ in Europe is perhaps doubtful.

536. Begripeth: used here as plural, cp. l. 1107: ‘calleth’ in l. 561 with ‘men’ (indef.) as the subject is not a case of the same kind.

545. who that rede: subj., cp. Prol. 460.

559. That is, presumably, double as much as either of the other two: cp. Trésor, p. 152, ‘car Asie tient bien l’une moitié de toute la terre.’

566. Canahim: a mistake for ‘Tanaim’ (or ‘Tanain’), see Trésor, p. 152, where the extent of Asia is said to be from the mouths of the Nile and the ‘Tanain’ (i. e. the Don) as far as the Ocean and the terrestrial Paradise.

593 ff. Cp. Trésor, p. 115.

597. Latini says that this is the explanation given by some people of the tides, but he adds that the astronomers do not agree with them (Trésor, p. 172).

611. Aristotle does in fact make of αἰθήρ a fifth element, of which the heaven and the heavenly bodies consist, but Gower takes this account of it and the name Orbis from the Trésor, p. 110, where also we find the comparison to the shell of an egg.

652 ff. ‘Sapiens dominabitur astris,’ an opinion which is developed in the Vox Clamantis, ii. 217 ff.

694. Bot thorizonte, ‘beyond the horizon’: so perhaps in the first text of v. 3306, ‘But of his lond’ stood for ‘Out of his lond.’ However, this use of ‘but’ is not clearly established in Southern ME. and perhaps the reading of the second recension, ‘Be thorizonte,’ may be right. As regards sense, one is much the same as the other: neither is very intelligible, unless ‘thorizonte’ means the ecliptic.

699. thei, that is the planets, not the signs.

725 ff. Cp. Trésor, p. 141.

831. is that on, i. e. ‘is one,’ or ‘is the first.’

853. The sun’s horses are named by Fulgentius, Mythol. ii, in the same order as we have here, ‘Erythreus, Actæon, Lampos, Philogeus.’ They are said there to represent four divisions of the day, Erythreus, for example, having his name from the red light of morning, and Philogeus from the inclination of the sun towards the earth at evening. Ovid gives a different set of names.

[Pg 525]

944. ‘In whatever degree he shall exercise his powers.’

978. as it appendeth, ‘as it is fitting,’ lit. ‘as it belongs’: cp. ‘appent,’ Mir. 1535.

979. natheles. This word is frequently used by Gower with no sense of opposition, meaning ‘moreover’ or something similar: cp. i. 21, vii. 3877, &c.

983. It may be observed that (in spite of this reference and that in l. 1043) our author’s statements about the number and arrangement of stars in the constellations of the zodiac do not at all correspond with those in the Almagest.

983 (margin). produxit ad esse, ‘brought forth into existence’: the infinitive is often used as a substantive in Gower’s Latin: e. g. Prol. Lat. Verses, iv. 4, v. 6.

989. hot and drye. According to the astrologers, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius preside over the element of fire, and are hot and dry by nature; Taurus, Virgo, Capricornus over that of earth, being dry and cold; Gemini, Libra, Aquarius preside over air, and are hot and moist; while Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are moist and cold, having dominion over water (Albumasar, cited by Vincent of Beauvais, Spec. Nat. xv. 36).

991 f. Aries and Scorpio are the ‘houses’ or ‘mansions’ of Mars, Taurus and Libra of Venus, Gemini and Virgo of Mercury, Cancer of the Moon, Leo of the Sun, Sagittarius and Pisces of Jupiter, Capricornus and Aquarius of Saturn.

1021. somdiel descordant: the hot and moist Libra is more in accordance with her nature: see 1111 ff.

1036 f. This statement and the others like it below, 1073, 1089, 1127, 1147, 1198, 1222, may be taken to indicate that the division of the signs was very uncertain in our author’s mind. It may be observed that the usual representation of Taurus in star-maps is with his head, not his tail, towards Gemini.

1085. the risinge: that is to say, Virgo is the ‘exaltation’ of Mercury, as well as one of his houses.

1100. For the sense of ‘applied’ cp. v. 913.

1115 f. Libra is the exaltation of Saturn.

1135. That is to say, Scorpio is the ‘fall’ of Venus, being the sign opposite to one of her houses, namely Taurus.

1155 f. Sagittarius is a house of Jupiter, and it is opposite to Gemini, which is one of the houses of Mercury.

1162. The Plowed Oxe, i. e. the ox that has ploughed the land.

1166. Then the swine are killed and the larder, or bacon-tub, comes into use.

1175. Capricorn is the ‘fall’ of the Moon, being opposite to her house, Cancer, as the next sign Aquarius is that of the Sun, see l. 1190.

1216. ‘Piscis’ is the reading of the MSS. here in text and margin, but ‘Pisces’ in l. 1253.

1229 ff. That is, Pisces is a house of Jupiter and the exaltation of Venus.

[Pg 526]

1239 ff. The reference is apparently to the Introductorium of Albumasar, but the printed editions of this give an abbreviated text which does not help us here. A fuller translation of the original may be found in manuscript, e. g. MS. Digby 194, where something more or less corresponding to this may be found on f. 55, but the Arabic names of places make it difficult to follow.

1281 ff. This account of the fifteen stars with their herbs and stones is taken by Gower from a treatise called ‘Liber Hermetis de xv stellis et de xv lapidibus et de xv herbis, xv figuris,’ &c., which may be found in several manuscripts, e. g. MSS. Ashmole 341 (f. 123) and 1471 (f. 120 v^o): cp. l. 1437, where Hermes is mentioned as the authority. Some information as to the names of the stars here mentioned may be found in Ideler’s Untersuchungen über den Ursprung und die Bedeutung der Sternnamen, 1809.

1292 ff. ‘Et scias quod stelle fixe habent fortunia et infortunia quemadmodum et planete’ (Lib. Herm.).

1317. ‘anabulla seu titimallum.’

1329. Algol, or Caput Algol, the Arabic ‘Ras el-ghûl’ (devil’s head), in Perseus.

1338. Alhaiot, probably for ‘Alhaioc,’ that is Capella, from the Arabic ‘El-‛aijûk.’

1343. ‘prassium seu marrubium.’

1345. Canis maior, ‘Alhabor,’ i. e. Sirius.

1356. Canis minor, ‘Algomeiza,’ i. e. Procyon.

1362. Primerole: in the Liber Hermetis we have here ‘solsecium, quam elitropiam vocant.’

1364. Arial, apparently ‘Cor Leonis,’ i. e. Regulus.

1367. Gorgonza: ‘gregonza’ in MS. Ash. 341.

1375. ‘lappacium maius.’

1378. gret riote: ‘color huius niger est, faciens hominem iratum, animosum et audacem et mala cogitantem et maledicentem ... et faciens fugere demones et congregare.’

1379 ff. ‘Nona stella dicitur Atimet Alaazel, ... et est ex natura Veneris et Mercurii, et dicitur stella pulchritudinis et racionis,’ &c. The name ‘Atimet Alaazel’ is from the Arabic ‘El-simâk el-a‛zal,’ that is the star which we call Spica.

1385. Salge, Lat. ‘saluia.’

1387. ‘Decima vero stella Atimet Alrameth, et dicitur saltator, et est ex natura Martis et Iouis.’ This is the Arabic ‘El-simâk el-râmih,’ which we call Arcturus.

1393. Venenas: ‘Vndecima stella dicitur Benenais et est postrema de ii stellis que sunt in cauda urse maioris.’ In Arabic ‘Banat Na‛sh.’

1401. Alpheta, ‘Elfetah,’ from the Arabic ‘El-fak‛ah’ (the beggar’s dish), meaning the constellation which we call the Northern Crown. Here the name stands for the principal star of that constellation, Gemma.

1419. Botercadent. The Latin says ‘Vultur cadens,’ that is perhaps[Pg 527] Vega; but ‘Botercadent’ would probably be a different star, namely that called in Arabic ‘Batn-Kaitos’ or Whale’s belly.

1426. Tail of Scorpio: in the Latin ‘Cauda Capricorni.’

1449 ff. These names of the chief authors of the science of astronomy seem to be partly taken from the treatise called Speculum Astronomiae or De libris licitis et illicitis, cap. ii. (Alberti Magni Opera, v. 657): cp. note on vi. 1311 ff. The passage is as follows, under the heading ‘De libris astronomicis antiquorum’: ‘Ex libris ergo qui post libros geometricos et arithmeticos inueniuntur apud nos scripti super his, primus tempore compositionis est liber quem edidit Nembroth gigas ad Iohathonem discipulum suum, qui sic incipit: Sphaera caeli &c., in quo est parum proficui et falsitates nonnullae, sed nihil est ibi contra fidem quod sciam. Sed quod de hac scientia vtilius inuenitur, est liber Ptolemaei Pheludensis, qui dicitur Graece Megasti, Arabice Almagesti, ... quod tamen in eo diligentiae causa dictum est prolixe, commode restringitur ab Azarchele Hispano, qui dictus est Albategni in libro suo.... Voluitque Alpetragius corrigere principia et suppositiones Ptolemaei,’ &c.

It would seem that, either owing to corruption of his text or to misunderstanding, our author separated the name ‘Megasti’ from its connexion with Ptolemy and the Almagest, and made of it a book called ‘Megaster,’ which he attributes to Nembrot.

1461. Alfraganus was author of a book called in Latin Rudimenta Astronomica.

1576 f. out of herre ... entriketh, that is, ‘involves (this world) in perplexity, so that it is disordered.’

1579. coupe of hevene, see note on l. 534.

1595 ff. The discussion in the Roman Senate on the fate of the accomplices of Catiline is here taken as a model of rhetorical treatment. The idea is a happy one, but it is borrowed from the Trésor, where Latini, after laying down the rules of rhetoric, illustrates them (pp. 505-517) by a report and analysis of the speeches in this debate, as they are given by Sallust. The ‘Cillenus’ mentioned below is D. Junius Silanus, who as consul-designate gave his opinion first. It is tolerably evident in this passage, as it is obvious in iv. 2647 ff., that Gower did not identify Tullius with Cicero, though Latini actually says, ‘Marcus Tullius Cicero, cils meismes qui enseigne l’art de rectorique, estoit adonques consule de Rome.’

1615 ff. Cp. Trésor, p. 509, ‘mais Jules Cesar, qui autre chose pensoit, se torna as covertures et as moz dorez, porce que sa matiere estoit contraire,’ &c.

1623. after the lawe. It may be observed as a matter of fact that the law was on the side of Caesar, and that this was his chief argument against the death penalty.

1706. Fyf pointz. The Secretum Secretorum recommends to rulers the virtues of Liberality, Wisdom, Chastity, Mercy, Truth, and afterwards of Justice, but there is no very systematic arrangement there,[Pg 528] nor in general does the treatment of the subject, except partly as regards Liberality, resemble Gower’s. It has been already observed that the treatment of Politics in the Trésor is altogether different from that which we have here.

1783 ff. This story comes originally from 3 Esdras, ch. iii, iv. The names, however, of Arpaghes and Manachaz are not found in the text of that book, and the story of Alcestis, which Zorobabel tells, is of course a later addition, made no doubt by our author.

1809. ‘Having his mind so disposed.’

1856. behelde, an archaic form, used here for the rhyme.

1884 ff. 3 Esdr. iv. 29, ‘Videbam tamen Apemen filiam Bezacis, mirifici concubinam regis, sedentem iuxta regem ad dexteram,’ &c.

1961 f. ‘He that is true shall never rue,’ or some such jingle. Cp. Shaksp. K. John, v. 7,

‘Nought shall make us rue,

If England to herself do rest but true.’

2000. laste, pret. ‘lasted’: cp. Prol. 672, iv. 2315.

2017 ff. This seems to be suggested by a passage in the Secretum Secretorum. ‘Reges sunt quattuor. Rex largus subditis et largus sibi, Rex auarus subditis et auarus sibi, Rex auarus sibi et largus subditis, Rex largus sibi et auarus subditis.’ This last is pronounced to be the worst, as the first is the best.

2031 ff. This refers to a passage in the Secretum Secretorum (ed. 1520, f. 8), which runs thus in the printed edition: ‘Que fuit causa destructionis regni calculorum: vnde quia superfluitas expensarum superat redditus ciuitatum, et sic deficientibus redditibus et expensis reges extenderunt manus suas ad res et redditus aliorum. Subditi ergo propter iniuriam clamauerunt ad deum excelsum gloriosum, qui immittens ventum calidum afflixit eos vehementer, et insurrexit populus contra eos et nomina eorum penitus de terra deleuerunt.’

This is obviously corrupt, and it is evident that ‘calculorum’ stands for a proper name, which Gower read ‘Caldeorum,’ as it is in MS. Laud 708. Other Bodleian MSS. to which I have referred give ‘Saldeorum’ (Bodley 181), ‘cangulorum’ (Add. C. 12), ‘singulorum ’ (Laud 645), ‘Anglorum’ (Digby 170). ‘Nonne’ is the reading of the MSS. for ‘vnde,’ and it seems that ‘Que fuit’ &c. is also a question.

2039. So in the Secretum Secretorum (shortly before the passage quoted above), ‘Debes igitur dona dare iuxta posse tuum cum mensura, hominibus indigentibus atque dignis.’

2050. of ken, here apparently ‘of quality.’

2061 ff. The basis of this story is to be found in Seneca, De Beneficiis, v. 24, ‘Causam dicebat apud divum Iulium ex veteranis quidam,’ &c., but there is no question there of an advocate; the veteran simply gains his case by recalling his personal services. The story appears in a form more like that of Gower in the Gesta Romanorum, 87 (ed. Oesterley), but the name Julius is not there mentioned, only ‘Quidam imperator.’ It may be observed also in general, that[Pg 529] though many stories are common to the Gesta Romanorum and the Confessio Amantis, there is no instance in which Gower can be proved to have used the Gesta Romanorum as his authority. Indeed the tales are there so meagrely and badly told for the most part, that there would be little temptation to turn to it if any other book were available.

Such references as ‘dicitur in gestis Romanorum’ are not to this book but to Roman History.

Hoccleve tells this story much as we have it here, in his Regement of Princes, 3270 ff., e. g.

‘Han ye forgote how scharp it with yow ferde,

Whan ye were in the werres of Asie?

Maffeith, your lif stood there in jupartie;

And advocat ne sente I non to yow,

But myself put in prees and for yow faght,’ &c.

2115 ff. This anecdote is perhaps taken from the Trésor, where it occurs more appropriately as an example of hypocritical excuses for not giving, ‘Li Maistres dit: Après te garde de malicieus engin de escondire, si comme fist le rois Antigonus, qui dist à un menestrier qui li demandoit un besant, que il demandoit plus que à lui n’aferoit; et quant il li demanda un denier, il dist que rois ne devoit pas si povrement doner. Ci ot malicieus escondit; car il li pooit bien doner un besant, porce que il estoit rois, ou un denier, porce que il estoit menestrel. Mais Alixandres le fist mieulx; car quant il dona une cité à un home, cil li dist que il estoit de trop has afaire à avoir cité; Alixandres li respondit: Je ne pren pas garde quel chose tu dois avoir, mais quel chose je doi doner’ (p. 412). This may serve as a rather favourable example of Latini’s style.

2132. is in manere: cp. l. 4344. It seems to mean that the virtue of giving depends on the measure with which it is done: cp. Praise of Peace, 53.

2139. To helpe with: cp. i. 452, 2172, ii. 283, &c.

2194. holden up his oil: cp. l. 2584, ‘To bere up oil.’ The only other instance which I can quote of this expression is from Trevisa’s translation of the Polychronicon (Rolls’ Series, vol. iii. p. 447, a reference which I owe to Dr. Murray), ‘There Alisaundre gan to boste ... and a greet deel of hem that were at the feste hilde up the kynges oyl.’ (In the Latin, magna convivantium parte assentiente.’) In all these cases it is used of flatterers, and ‘oil’ seems to stand in this phrase for ‘pride’ or ‘vainglory.’ I am disposed to think it is simply the French ‘oil,’ meaning ‘eye,’ and getting its present sense from such Biblical expressions as ‘oculi sublimium deprimentur,’ ‘oculos superborum humiliabis,’ ‘oculos sublimes, linguam mendacem’; but I can quote no examples of this meaning in French.

2217 ff. This story is based originally on an anecdote told by Valerius Maximus: ‘Idem Syracusis, cum holera ei lavanti Aristippus dixisset, Si Dionysium adulari velles, ista non esses, Immo, inquit, si tu ista[Pg 530] esse velles, non adularere Dionysium’ (Mem. iv. 3). It has been repeated often in a short form.

2268. the worldes crok, that is, the crooked way of the world. See the quotations in the New Engl. Dictionary under ‘crook,’ 12.

2279. joutes: see Godefroy’s Dictionary, where an instance is quoted of the use of this word in a French version of this very story.

2302. F punctuates after ‘pyke,’ and no doubt rightly so. The word ‘trewely’ corresponds to the Latin ‘certe’ in the margin above.

2355 ff. The Roman Triumph as here related was a commonplace of preachers and moralists, cp. Bromyard, Summa Praedicantium, T. v. 36, ‘Triumphus enim secundum Isidorum dicitur a tribus: quia triumphator Romanus cum victoria versus civitatem veniens tres honores habere debuit,’ &c. So l. 2366, ‘Of treble honour he was certein.’ It is also in the Gesta Romanorum, 30 (ed. Oesterley), but from neither of these could Gower have got his ‘Notheos’ (for Γνῶθι σεαυτόν).

2416 ff. This custom is spoken of in Hoccleve’s Regement of Princes with a marginal reference to the Vita Iohannis Eleemosynarii, where it is in fact mentioned (Migne, Patrol., vol. 73, p. 354).

2527 ff. From 1 Kings xxii. It will be seen that the story is told rather freely as regards order of events, as if from memory.

2531 (margin). organizate, used in a musical sense.

2553. Godelie: the person meant is Athaliah.

2584. bere up oil: see note on l. 2194.

2660. astraied. See New Engl. Dict., under ‘astray,’ verb and adv.

2698 (margin). No manuscript here gives the reading ‘regiminis,’ so far as I know; but it is required by the sense, and the reading ‘regis’ might easily arise from the abbreviation of ‘regiminis,’ as we find it in some MSS. at l. 3106 (margin). Note that S is defective here, and J, Ad, K omit the Latin margin. Δ attempts an emendation.

2726 f. lete Of wrong to don, i. e. ‘abstain from doing wrong.’

2765 ff. From Godfrey of Viterbo (in Monum. Germ. Hist. xxii. p. 169), ‘Quando voluit rectores dare provinciis ... nomina eorum examinabat in populo, dicens: Si quis habet crimen contra eos, dicat et probet,’ &c. This passage is not contained in the earlier redactions of the Pantheon, and consequently we may conclude that Gower’s copy was one which contained the later additions: cp. notes on 4181 ff. and viii. 271 ff.

2771. his name, that is, his reputation: cp. 2774.

2780. stod ... upon, ‘rested upon,’ ‘was guided by.’

2783 ff. The saying by which this story is characterized, ‘malle locupletibus imperare quam ipsum fieri locupletem,’ is more properly attributed to M’. Curius Dentatus (Valerius Maximus, Mem. iv. 3. 5): but Fabricius also rejected gifts sent him by the Samnites.

2810. bothe: apparently both the men and their possessions.

2833 ff. This is probably Conrad II, of whom Godfrey of Viterbo says ‘nulli violatori pacis parcebat.’

2845 ff. Originally taken from Valerius Maximus, who tells it,[Pg 531] however, with reference to Charondas, the supposed legislator of Thurii (Mem. vi. 5).

2864. sete: apparently a strong past participle formed from ‘sette’ by confusion with ‘sitte ‘: cp. ‘upsete’ rhyming with ‘misgete,’ viii. 244.

2883. of dawe: equivalent to ‘of this lif,’ iv. 3414.

2889 ff. This is a story which we find very often repeated (originally from Herodotus), e. g. Valerius Maximus, Mem. vi. 3, Gesta Romanorum, 29 (without mention of Cambyses by name), Hoccleve’s Regement of Princes, &c. In Δ we find added to the marginal Latin,

‘vnde versus,

Sede sedens ista iudex inflexibilis sta,

Sit tibi lucerna lux, lex, pellisque paterna,

Qua resides natus pro patre sponte datus.

A manibus reuoces munus, ab aure preces.’

It would seem that the last line should stand as the second.

2902. Avise him, ‘Let him consider.’

flitte, ‘turn aside,’ cp. iv. 214; but also intransitive, v. 7076.

2917 ff. Another often repeated story. The Gesta Romanorum has it (169) with a reference to Trogus Pompeius (that is Justin, Epit. iii. 3). Gower makes the city Athens instead of Sparta (cp. 3089), and the god Mercury instead of Apollo.

3054 ff. This list of legislators is from the Trésor, p. 24, but the text which our author used seems to have been corrupt. The passage runs thus in the printed edition: ‘Moyses fu li premiers qui bailla la loi as Hebreus; et li rois Foroneus fu li premiers qui la bailla as Grezois; Mercures as Egypciens, et Solon à cels de Athenes; Ligurgus as Troyens; Numa Pompilius, qui regna après Romulus en Rome, et puis ses filz, bailla et fist lois as Romains premierement,’ &c. If we suppose ‘Solon’ to have been omitted in the MS., the passage might read (with changes of punctuation) nearly as we have it in Gower.

3092. on the beste Above alle other: cp. iv. 2606, &c.

3137 ff. Cp. Mirour de l’Omme, 13921, and see also ii. 3204 ff. (margin).

3144. Troian: so given in all MSS. for ‘Traian.’ So also in the Mirour, 22168, and in Godfrey of Viterbo, Spec. Reg. ii. 14 (Mon. Germ. Hist. xxii. p. 74).

3181 ff. Valerius Maximus, Mem. v. 6: but he does not mention the Dorians as the enemy against whom Codrus fought. However, the story was a common one: cp. Gesta Romanorum, 41.

3201. lemes: cp. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, A 3886.

3149* f. The reference is to the Epistle of St. James ii. 13, ‘Iudicium enim sine misericordia illi qui non fecit misericordiam.’

3157*. That is, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.’

3161* f. Cp. Mirour de l’Omme, 13918 ff., where the same is quoted.

3163* ff. Quoted also in the Mirour, 13925 ff.,and there also attributed to Tullius, but I cannot give the reference.

[Pg 532]

3210. drawe: the change to subjunctive marks this sentence as really conditional.

3215 ff. Valerius Maximus, Mem. v. 1. 9.

3217. in jeupartie, i. e. equally balanced, the result uncertain.

3267 ff. Justinian II is described by Gibbon as a cruel tyrant, whose deposition by Leontius was fully deserved, and who, when restored by the help of Terbelis, took a ferocious vengeance on his opponents: ‘during the six years of his new reign, he considered the axe, the cord, and the rack as the only instruments of royalty.’ Nothing apparently could be less appropriate than the epithet ‘pietous,’ which Gower bestows upon him.

3295 ff. This again was a very common story: cp. Gesta Romanorum, 48 (ed. Oesterley). Hoccleve tells it with a reference to Orosius, Regement of Princes, 3004 ff. Gower probably had it from Godfrey of Viterbo, Pantheon, p. 181 (ed. 1584), where Berillus is given for Perillus, as in our text. He takes ‘Phalaris Siculus’ as the tyrant’s name, and shortens it to Siculus.

3302. I take the preceding three lines as a parenthesis, and this as following l. 3298.

3341. ‘Dionys’ is a mistake for Diomede, or rather Diomedes is confused with the tyrant Dionysius.

3355 ff. Cp. Ovid, Metam. i. 221 ff.

3359. With othre men, i. e. ‘by other men’: cp. viii. 2553.

3387 ff. This characteristic of the lion is mentioned by Brunetto Latini, Trésor, p. 224.

3417 ff. This story is told much as it appears in Justin, Epit. i. 8, and Orosius, Hist. ii. 7, but the name Spertachus (Spartachus) is apparently from Peter Comestor (Migne, Patrol.. vol. 198, p. 1471), who gives this as the name of Cyrus in his boyhood. The same[Pg 533] authority may have supplied the name ‘Marsagete,’ for the histories named above call Thamyris only ‘queen of the Scythians’; but Comestor omits the details of the story.

3207* ff. The tale of the Jew and the Pagan is from the Secretum Secretorum, where it is told as a warning against trusting those who are not of our faith. The differences are mainly as follows. No names of places are mentioned in the original; the ‘pagan’ is called ‘magus orientalis,’ and he rides a mule: the Jew is without provisions, and the Magian feeds him as well as allowing him to ride: the Jew is found not dead but thrown from the mule, with a broken leg and other injuries—there is no mention of a lion except in the entreaties of the Magian, ‘noli me derelinquere in deserto, ne forte interficiar a leonibus.’ The Magian is about to leave him to die, but the Jew pleads that he has acted only in accordance with his own law, and again appeals to the Magian to show him the mercy which his religion enjoins. Finally the Magian carries him away and delivers him safely to his own people. Probably our author thought that this form of the story unduly sacrificed justice to mercy, and therefore he killed his Jew outright.

3342* ff. Note the subjunctive after ‘who (that)’ here and in ll. 3349, 3355: see note on Prol. 460.

3418. The name ‘Spertachus’ is given in full by F in the Latin summary, l. 3426 (margin). In the English text the first syllable is abbreviated in most copies, but A has ‘Spartachus’ and H₃ ‘Spertachus.’

3539. Pite feigned: cp. l. 3835.

3581. The reference should be to Juvenal, Sat. viii. 269 ff.,

‘Malo pater tibi sit Thersites, dummodo tu sis

Aeacidae similis, Vulcaniaque arma capessas,

Quam te Thersitae similem genuisset Achilles.’

Gower has here taken the point out of the quotation to a great extent, but it occurs in the Mirour, 23371 ff., in its proper form, though with the same false reference.

3627 ff. From the Book of Judges, ch. vii.

3632. For the anacoluthon cp. iv. 3201, vi. 1798, and note on i. 98.

3639. The reading of the second recension, ‘hem,’ seems clearly to be right here: ‘against those who would assail them.’

3640 ff. The meaning apparently is that each single division of the three which the enemy had was twice as large as Gideon’s whole army. The original text says nothing of the kind.

3752. per compaignie, ‘together.’

3820 ff. 1 Samuel xv.

3860 ff. 1 Kings ii.

3877. natheles, ‘moreover’: cp. 4242 and note on Prol. 39.

3884. that, for ‘to that’: cp. Prol. 122.

3891 ff. 1 Kings iii.

4011. propre, i. e. ‘in himself.’

4027 ff. 1 Kings xii.

4144. can ... mai, used in their original senses, the one implying knowledge and the other active power.

4181 ff. The person meant is Antoninus Pius, of whom his biographer Capitolinus says that he loved peace ‘eousque ut Scipionis sententiam frequentarit, qua ille dicebat, malle se unum civem servare quam mille hostes occidere’ (Hist. August. ed. 1620, p. 20). Godfrey of Viterbo, in the text given by Waitz (Mon. Germ. Hist. xxii. pp. 75, 163), regularly calls him Antonius, and probably Gower had the saying from this source. It is one of the later additions to the Pantheon: cp. note on 2765 ff.

4195. is due To Pite. This seems to mean ‘is bound by duty’ to show mercy.

4228. His trouthe plight, ‘the engagement of his faith.’ Here we have the word ‘plight’ from OE. ‘pliht,’ to be distinguished from ‘plit.’

4242. natheles: cp. l. 3877.

4245. hihe: note the definite form after the possessive genitive, as after a possessive pronoun.

[Pg 534]

4284. ‘And even if it should chance that he obtained any friendliness from her.’ For the use of ‘compainie’ cp. v. 4558.

4335. Barbarus: more properly Arbaces, but ‘Barbatus’ in the Pantheon (p. 165, ed. 1584).

4361 ff. Cp. Justin, Epit. i. 7, where however the expedient is said to have been used (as related by Herodotus) after Cyrus had put down a revolt.

4406 ff. Numbers xxv.

4408. Amalech: Balak is meant.

4464 ff. This means apparently that the later time of life will be as a dark night which is not illuminated by any sunshine of dawn; but it is not very clearly expressed.

4469 ff. 1 Kings xi.

4515. That is, ‘Ahijah the Shilonite,’ called ‘Ahias Silonites’ in the Latin version.

4559 ff. (margin). The quotation is from the Secretum Secretorum: ‘O summe rex, studeas modis omnibus custodire et retinere calorem naturalem’ (ed. 1520, f. 25 v^o).

4574 f. Caracalla, son of Severus, is here meant. His name was Aurelius Antoninus, and he is called Aurelius Antonius in the Pantheon (Mon. Germ. Hist. xxii. p. 166). Caracalla is called by Orosius ‘omnibus hominibus libidine intemperantior, qui etiam novercam suam Iuliam uxorem duxerit’ (Hist. vii. 18), and this character of him is repeated in the Pantheon.

4593 ff. This story is from Ovid, Fasti, ii. 687-720. Gower’s rendering of it is remarkable for ease and simplicity of style: see especially ll. 4667-4685, 4701-4717.

4598. Neither Aruns nor Sextus is mentioned by name in Ovid, who speaks only of ‘Tarquinius iuvenis.’ Gower gives to Aruns the place of Sextus throughout this and the following story.

4623. schette, intransitive, equivalent to ‘were shut’: cp. iii. 1453.

4701 ff. The sacrifice at which this portent occurred is here brought into connexion with the capture of Gabii, a construction which is not unnaturally suggested by Ovid’s abrupt transition, l. 711.

4718 ff.

‘Consulitur Phoebus. Sors est ita reddita: Matri

Qui dederit princeps oscula, victor erit.’ Fasti, ii. 713 f.

Ovid means that a message was sent to Delphi; but our author understands it differently.

4739 f. ‘Creditus offenso procubuisse pede’ (720).

4754 ff. This again is from Ovid, where it occurs as a continuation of the last story, Fasti, 721-852. Chaucer, who tells this story in the Legend of G. Women, 1680 ff., also follows Ovid, and more closely than Gower, e. g. 1761 ff., 1805 ff., 1830f.

4757. unskilfully, that is, ‘unjustly,’ without due ‘skile’ or reason.

4778 ff. ‘Non opus est verbis, credite rebus, ait’ (734).

4805 f. This is derived from a misunderstanding of Fasti, ii. 785,

‘Accipit aerata iuvenem Collatia porta.’

[Pg 535]

Cp. l. 4911 below. Both Chaucer and Gower make the tragedy occur at Rome, though Chaucer professes to have Livy before him.

4902. ‘audentes forsve deusve iuvat.’

4937. To hire: cp. v. 5724. It means here much the same as ‘by her.’

5062. sche myhte it noght, ‘sche could not help it.’

5088 ff.

‘Illa iacens ad verba oculos sine lumine mouit,

Visaque concussa dicta probare coma.’ Fasti, ii. 845 f.

5093 ff. This latter part is added from other sources, perhaps from Livy.

5131 ff. Chaucer tells the story of Virginia as the Tale of the Doctor of Physic, professing to follow Livy, but actually taking his materials chiefly from the Roman de la Rose, 5613 ff., from which he transcribes also the reference to ‘Titus Livius.’ His story differs from that of Livy in many respects, and the changes are not at all for the better. For example, Chaucer does not mention the absence of Virginius in the camp, and he makes him kill his daughter at home and carry her head to Appius. Gower follows Livy, or some account drawn from Livy, without material alteration. It may be observed that Chaucer (following the Rom. de la Rose) uses the name ‘Apius’ alone for the judge, and ‘Claudius’ for the dependent, while Gower names them more correctly ‘Apius Claudius’ and ‘Marchus Claudius.’ On the subject generally reference may be made to Rumbaur’s dissertation, Geschichte von Appius und Virginia in der engl. Litteratur, Breslau, 1890.

5136. Livius Virginius, a mistake for ‘Lucius Virginius.’

5151. Ilicius, that is, Icilius.

5209. til that he come, ‘till he should come,’ the verb being pret. subjunctive.

5254 ff. The sentence is irregular in construction, but intelligible and vigorous: ‘but as to that command, like the hunted wild boar, who when he feels the hounds hard upon him, throws them off on both sides and goes his way, so (we may say) this knight,’ &c. The simile is due to Gower.

5261. kepte, ‘waited for.’

5307 ff. From the Book of Tobit, ch. vi-viii. The moral of the story is given by vi. 17, where Raphael says to Tobias, ‘Hi namque qui coniugium ita suscipiunt, ut Deum a se et a sua mente excludant, et suae libidini ita vacent sicut equus et mulus, quibus non est intellectus, habet potestatem daemonium super eos.’ This, however, is absent from the English version (which follows the LXX), as are also the precepts which follow, about nights to be spent in prayer by the newly married couple. The same is the case with the five precepts given to Sara by her parents, which are mentioned in the Mirour, 17701 ff.

5390. This line, written in F as follows,

‘Hov trewe · hou large · hou ioust · hov chaste,’

is enough to show that v and u are used indifferently in this kind of position: cp. movþe: couþe, 5285 f.

5408. Do wey, ‘Have done’: see New English Dictionary, ‘do,’ 52.

[Pg 536]

LIB. VIII.

We may suppose that our author had some embarrassment as regards the subject of his eighth book. It should properly have dealt with the seventh Deadly Sin and its various branches, that is, as the Mirour de l’Omme gives them, ‘Fornicacioun,’ ‘Stupre,’ ‘Avolterie,’ ‘Incest,’ ‘Foldelit.’ Nearly all of these subjects, however, have already been treated of more or less fully, either in the fifth book, where branches of Avarice are spoken of with reference to the case of love, or in the seventh, under the head of Chastity as a point of Policy. Even the author’s commendation of Virginity, which might well have been reserved for this place, and which would have been rather less incongruous at the end than in the middle of the shrift, has already been set forth in the fifth book. There remained only Incest, and of this unpromising subject he has made the best he could, first tracing out the gradual development of the moral (or rather the ecclesiastical) law with regard to it, and then making it an excuse for the Tale of Apollonius (or Appolinus) of Tyre, which extends over the larger half of the book. The last thousand lines or so are occupied with the conclusion of the whole poem.

36. upon his grace, that is, free for him to bestow on whom he would.

44. Raphael is not named in Genesis.

48. Metodre, that is, Methodius, in whose Revelationes it is written, ‘Sciendum namque est, exeuntes Adam et Evam de Paradiso virgines fuisse,’ so that ‘Into the world’ in l. 53 must mean from Paradise into the outer world.

62 ff. This is not found in Genesis, only ‘genuitque filios et filias,’ but Methodius says that the sisters of Cain and Abel were Calmana and Debora.

110. For the hiatus cp. Mirour, 12241,

‘De Isaäk auci je lis.’

158. ne yit religion. The seduction of one who was a professed member of a religious order was usually accounted to be incest: cp. Mirour, 9085 ff. and l. 175 below.

170. ‘I keep no such booth (or stall) at the fair,’ that is, ‘I do no such trade.’

244. upsete: see Introduction, p. cxix, and cp. vii. 2864.

271 ff. Gower tells us here that he finds the story in the Pantheon. That is true, no doubt: it is told there in the peculiar kind of verse with which Godfrey of Viterbo diversified his chronicle, and a most useful text of this particular story, showing the differences of three redactions, is given by S. Singer in his Apollonius von Tyrus, Halle, 1895, pp. 153-177. There is ample evidence that Gower was acquainted with the Pantheon, but it is not the case that he followed it in this story, as has been too readily assumed. Godfrey tells the[Pg 537] tale in a much abbreviated form, and Gower unquestionably followed mainly the Latin prose narrative which was commonly current, though he thought the Pantheon, as a grave historical authority, more fit to be cited. The very first sentence, with its reference, ‘as seith the bok,’ is enough to indicate this, but a few more points may be mentioned here in which the story of the Pantheon differs from Gower and from the prose Historia Apollonii Tyrii. (1) Godfrey of Viterbo does not say what was the problem proposed by Antiochus, nor does he mention the period of thirty days. (2) He gives no details of the flight of Apollonius or of the mourning of his people, and he does not mention the incident of Taliart (or Thaliarchus). (3) The name Pentapolim is not introduced. (4) There is no mention in the Pantheon of the wooing of the daughter of Archistrates by three princes (or nobles) or of the bills which they wrote. (5) There is no mention of the nurse Lichorida being taken with Apollonius and his wife on shipboard, of the master of the ship insisting that the corpse should be thrown into the sea, or of the name of the physician, Cerimon. (6) The Pantheon says nothing of the vow of Apollonius in ll. 1301-1306. (7) The name Theophilus is not given. (8) There is no mention of the tomb of Thaise (or Tharsia) being shown to Apollonius. (9) In the Pantheon the punishment of Strangulio and Dionysia precedes the visit to Ephesus, and there is no mention of the dream which caused Apollonius to sail to Ephesus.

There are indeed some points in which Gower agrees with the Pantheon against the Historia, for example in making the princess ask for Apollonius as her teacher on the very night of the banquet instead of the next morning, and in representing that Apollonius went to his kingdom after leaving his daughter at Tharsis (cp. E. Klebs, Die Erzählung von Apollonius aus Tyrus, Berlin, 1899). Perhaps however the most marked correspondence is where Gower makes the wife of Apollonius ‘Abbesse’ of Diana’s temple (l. 1849), which is evidently from Godfrey’s line, ‘Sic apud Ephesios velut abbatissa moratur’: cp. also l. 1194 ‘warmed ofte.’ These are both among the later additions to the Pantheon, and apparently were overlooked by Singer and Klebs when they pronounced that Gower probably knew only the earlier redaction: cp. notes on vii. 2765, 4181.

The Latin prose narrative has been printed in Welseri Opera, ed. 1682, pp. 681-704, and also in the Teubner series (ed. Riese, 1871, 1893). It is a translation from a Greek original, as is sufficiently indicated by the Greek words that occur in it, and by the Greek customs which it refers to or presupposes. Gower agrees with it pretty closely, but the story is not improved in his hands. It loses, of course, the Greek characteristics of which we have spoken, and several of the incidents are related by Gower in a less effective manner than in the original. For example, in the scene near the beginning between Antiochus and Apollonius, the king asks, ‘Nosti nuptiarum conditionem?’ and the young man replies, ‘Novi et ad portam vidi,’ to which there is nothing corresponding in Gower.[Pg 538] Again, at a later stage of the story, when the three young nobles send in their proposals to the daughter of Archistrates, the original story makes her reply in a note which declares that she will marry only ‘the ship-wrecked man.’ The king innocently inquires of the three young men which of them has suffered shipwreck, and finally hands the note to Apollonius to see if he can make anything of it. This is much better managed than by Gower. On the other hand our author has done well in dispensing with the rudeness and boastfulness of Apollonius on the occasion when the king’s daughter plays the harp at the feast, and also in modifying the scenes at the brothel and excluding Athenagoras from taking part in them. The quotations given in the following notes are made from the Bodleian MS. Laud 247, a good copy of the twelfth century, which has a form of text more nearly corresponding to that which Gower used than that of any of the printed editions, and by means of which we can account for the names Thaise and Philotenne.

It can hardly be necessary to observe that the play of Pericles, Prince of Tyre, had another source besides Gower, and especially as regards its fourth and fifth acts. Marina is waylaid while going to visit the tomb of her old nurse, as in the original story, the scene of the pirates agrees more nearly with the original than with Gower, Lysimachus plays a part very like that which Gower took away from Athenagoras, and the scene between Cleon and Dionyza (iv. 4) seems to be suggested by the original. The story was current in English prose, as is well known.

386. And seileth: cp. v. 3291 and note.

395. he moste, ‘that he might,’ ‘ut sibi liceret,’ a common use of the word in older English (see examples in Bosworth and Toller’s Dictionary).

405 ff. (margin). The riddle as given in the Laud MS. is, ‘Scelere uehor. Materna carne uescor. Quero patrem meum matris mee uirum uxoris mee filiam, nec inuenio.’ Most copies have ‘fratrem meum’ for ‘patrem meum,’ but Gower agrees with the Laud MS. I do not attempt a solution of it beyond that of Apollonius, which is, ‘Quod dixisti scelere uehor, non es mentitus, ad te ipsum respice. Et quod dixisti materna carne uescor, filiam tuam intuere.’

484. the Stwes. For the spelling cp. ‘Jwes,’ v. 1713, 1808.

536. This is by no means in accordance with the original. Antiochus exclaims on hearing of the flight of Apollonius, ‘Fugere modo quidem potest, effugere autem quandoque me minime poterit,’ and at once issues an edict, ‘Quicunque mihi Apollonium contemptorem regni mei uiuum adduxerit, quinquaginta talenta auri a me dabuntur ei: qui uero caput eius mihi optulerit, talentorum c. receptor erit’ (f. 205 v^o), and he causes search to be made after him both by land and sea. The change made by Gower is not a happy one, for it takes away the motive for the flight from Tarsus, where Apollonius heard of this proscription.

[Pg 539]

542 ff. In the original Apollonius meets ‘Hellanicus’ at once on landing, and is informed by him of the proscription. He makes an offer to Strangulio to sell his wheat at cost price to the citizens, if they will conceal his presence among them. The money which he receives as the price of the wheat is expended by him in public benefits to the state, and the citizens set up a statue of him standing in a two-horse chariot (biga), his right hand holding forth corn and his left foot resting upon a bushel measure.

603. ferketh, ‘conveys,’ from OE. ‘fercian’: cp. Anglo-Saxon Chron. 1009, Hī fercodon ða scipo eft to Lundenne’ (quoted in Bosworth and Toller’s Dictionary).

624. ‘But with cable and cord broken asunder ... the ship’ &c., past participle absolute, as ii. 791, viii. 1830.

640. forto mote To gete ayein. Apparently this means ‘to wish to get again,’ a meaning derived from the phrase ‘so mot I,’ &c., expressing a wish. The infinitive is very unusual. For the gerund with ‘to’ which follows it cp. ii. 510, vii. 437, where we have this construction with ‘mai,’ ‘mihte.’

679. The account in the original story is here considerably different. Gower did not understand the Greek customs. ‘Et dum cogitaret unde uite peteret auxilium, uidit puerum nudum per plateam currentem, oleo unctum, precinctum sabana, ferentem ludos iuueniles ad gymnasium pertinentes, maxima uoce dicentem: Audite ciues, audite peregrini, liberi et ingenui, gymnasium patet. Apollonius hoc audito exuens se tribunario ingreditur lauacrum, utitur liquore palladio; et dum exercentes singulos intueretur, parem sibi querit et non inuenit. Subito Arcestrates rex totius illius regionis cum turba famulorum ingressus est: dumque cum suis ad pile lusum exerceretur, uolente deo miscuit se Apollonius regi, et dum currenti sustulit pilam, subtili ueiocitate percussam ludenti regi remisit’ &c. (f. 207 v^o).

The story proceeds to say that the king, pleased with the skill of Apollonius in the game of ball, accepted his services at the bath, and was rubbed down by him in a very pleasing manner. The result was an invitation to supper.

Gower agrees here with the Pantheon in making the king a spectator only.

691. Artestrathes. The name is Arcestrates in the Laud MS.

706. lefte it noght, ‘did not neglect it.’

720 f. ‘Ingressus Apollonius in triclinium, contra regem adsignato loco discubuit.’ Gower apparently sets him at the head of the second table. For ‘beginne’ cp. Cant. Tales, Prol. 52, with Skeat’s note.

767 ff. In the original all applaud the performance of the king’s daughter except Apollonius, who being asked by the king why he alone kept silence, replied, ‘Bone rex, si permittis, dicam quod sentio: filia enim tua in artem musicam incidit, nam non didicit. Denique iube mihi tradi liram, et scies quod nescit’ (f. 208 v^o). Gower has toned this down to courtesy.

[Pg 540]

782. ‘ita stetit ut omnes discumbentes una cum rege non Apollonium sed Apollinem estimarent.’

866 ff. In the original this incident takes place when the king is in company with Apollonius. The king replies that his daughter has fallen ill from too much study, but he bids them each write his name and the sum of money which he is prepared to offer as dowry, and he sends the bills at once to the princess by the hand of Apollonius. She reads them, and then asks whether he is not sorry that she is going to be married. He says, ‘Immo gratulor,’ and she replies, ‘Si amares, doleres.’ Then she writes a note, saying that she wishes to have ‘the shipwrecked man’ as her husband, adding ‘Si miraris, pater, quod pudica uirgo tam inprudenter scripserim, scitote quia quod pudore indicare non potui, per ceram mandaui, que ruborem non habet.’ The king having read the note asks the young men which of them has been shipwrecked. One claims the distinction, but is promptly exposed by his companions, and the king hands the note to Apollonius, saying that he can make nothing of it. Apollonius reads and blushes, and the king asks, ‘Inuenisti naufragum?’ To which he replies discreetly, ‘Bone rex, si permittis, inueni.’ The king at last understood, and dismissed the three young men, promising to send for them when they were wanted.

901 ff. ‘cui si me non tradideris, amittis filiam tuam,’ but this is afterwards, in a personal interview.

930 ff. There is no mention of the queen in the original. The king calls his friends together and announces the marriage. The description of the wedding, &c., ll. 952-974, is due to Gower.

1003 ff. In the original story it is here announced to Apollonius that he has been elected king in succession to Antiochus; but this was regarded by our author as an unnecessary complication.

1037 ff. The details of the description are due to our author.

1054 ff. So far as the original can be understood, it seems to say that the birth of the child was brought about by the storm and that the appearance of death in the mother took place afterwards, owing to a coagulation of the blood caused by the return of fair weather.

1059-1083. This is all Gower, except 1076 f.

1089 ff. Apparently the meaning is that the sea will necessarily cast a dead body up on the shore, and therefore they must throw it out of the ship, otherwise the ship itself will be cast ashore with it. The Latin says only, ‘nauis mortuum non suffert: iube ergo corpus in pelago mitti’ (f. 211 v^o).

1101. The punctuation is that of F.

1128. tak in his mynde, ‘let him take thought’: cp. v. 3573, and l. 1420 below.

1165. the wisest: cp. Introduction, p. cxi.

1184 ff. In the original it is not Cerimon himself, but a young disciple of his, who discovers the signs of life and takes measures for restoring her. She has already been laid upon the pyre, and he by[Pg 541] carefully lighting the four corners of it (cp. l. 1192) succeeds in liquefying the coagulated blood. Then he takes her in and warms her with wool steeped in hot oil.

1195. ‘began’ is singular, and the verbs ‘hete,’ ‘flacke,’ ‘bete’ are used intransitively: ‘to flacke’ means to flutter.

1219. ‘In short, they speak of nothing’: ‘as for an ende’ seems to mean the same as ‘for end’ or ‘for an end’ in later English: cp. New English Dictionary, ‘end.’

1248. This daughter is apparently an invention of Gower’s, who perhaps misread the original, ‘adhibitis amicis filiam sibi adoptauit,’ that is, he adopted her as his daughter.

1285. his In, ‘his lodging,’ in this case the house of Strangulio. Note the distinction made here by the capital letter between the substantive and the adverb: see Introduction, p. clix.

1293. whiche: note the plural, referring to Strangulio and his wife.

1295. The name here in the original is ‘Tharsia,’ given to her by her father’s suggestion from the name of the city, Tharsus, where she was left; but the Laud MS. afterwards regularly calls her Thasia.

1311 ff. This is not in accordance with the Latin prose story. He is there represented as telling Strangulio that he does not care, now that he has lost his wife, either to accept the offered kingdom or to return to his father-in-law, but intends to lead the life of a merchant. Here the expression is ‘ignotas et longinquas petens Egypti regiones.’ On the other hand the Pantheon makes him proceed to his kingdom, apparently Antioch.

1337. Philotenne: the name in the Laud MS. is ‘Philothemia,’ but it is not distinguishable in writing from Philothenna. There is much variation as to this name in other copies.

1349 ff. Much is made in the original story of the death of this nurse and of the revelation which she made to Tharsia of her real parentage. Up to this time she had supposed herself to be the daughter of Strangulio. The nurse suspected some evil, and advised Tharsia, if her supposed parents dealt ill with her, to go and take hold of the statue of her father in the market-place and appeal to the citizens for help. After her death Tharsia visited her tomb by the sea-shore every day, ‘et ibi manes parentum suorum inuocabat.’ Here Theophilus lay in wait for her by order of Dionysiades.

1374. cherles. This is the reading of the best copies of each recension: cp. ‘lyves’ for ‘livissh’ i. e. living, ‘worldes’ for ‘worldly,’ ‘dethes’ for ‘dedly,’ iii. 2657, iv. 382, &c.

1376. what sche scholde, that is, what should become of her.

1391. Scomerfare. The first part of this word must be the French ‘escumerie,’ meaning piracy: see Du Cange under ‘escumator,’ e. g. ‘des compaignons du pays de Bretaigne, qui étaient venuz d’Escumerie.’

1393. and he to go, that is, ‘and he proceeded to go,’ a kind of historic infinitive: cp. Chaucer, Troilus, ii. 1108, ‘And she to laughe,’[Pg 542] Leg. of Good Women, 653 ‘And al his folk to go.’ (In Piers Plowman, A. Prol. 33, ‘And somme murthes to make,’ quoted by Mätzner, it is more probable that ‘to make’ is dependent on ‘chosen.’) In addition to these instances we have the repeated use of ‘to ga’ in Barbour’s Bruce, e. g. viii. 251, ix. 263, which is much more probably to be explained in this way than as a compound verb. Cp. Skeat’s Chaucer, vol. vi. p. 403, with C. Stoffel’s note on Troilus, ii. 1108, which is there quoted.

1410. The Laud MS. has ‘leno leoninus nomine,’ but many copies give no name.

1420. Lei doun, ‘let him lay down’: cp. l. 1128.

1423. There is an interesting touch in the original here which would not be intelligible to Gower. When Tharsia is led into the house, the character of which she does not know, she is bidden to do reverence to a statue of Priapus which stands in the entrance hall. She asks her master whether he is a native of Lampsacus, and he explains to her that his interest in this matter is not local but professional.

1424 ff. There is much in the original about the visit of Athenagoras and of other persons, who are successively so far overcome by the tears and entreaties of Tarsia, as not only to spare her but to give her large sums of money, while at the same time they make a jest both of themselves and of one another for doing so.

1451 f. The rhyme is saved from being an identical one by the adverbial use of ‘weie’ in the second line, ‘mi weie’ being equivalent to ‘aweie.’

1513. In the original she is reproached by her husband for the deed, and this is the case in the play of Pericles also.

1518. of record, ‘of good repute.’

1534 f. Cp. Pericles, iv. 4, ‘The fairest, sweetest, best lies here,’ but the rest of the epitaph compares unfavourably with Gower’s.

1567 ff. Here we have a curious lapse on the part of our author. He represents that the king had no sooner held his parliament and celebrated the sacrifice in memory of his wife, than he began to prepare for his voyage to Tharsis. The story requires however that at least fourteen years should elapse, and this, according to the original narrative, has been spent by Apollonius in travelling about as a merchant, a matter of which Gower says nothing. Probably the Pantheon, which is not very clear on the matter, is responsible for the oversight.

1587. ‘For she is continually changing with regard to him.’

1617. besihe, ‘attended to.’ The use of this verb was not very common in Gower’s time except in the participle ‘beseie,’ ‘besein.’ The verb means (1) look, see, (2) look to, attend to, (3) provide, arrange: hence the participle is quite naturally used in the sense of ‘furnished,’ ‘provided,’ and we have ‘unbesein of,’ l. 153, for ‘unprovided with.’ It is usually explained by reference to its first sense, as having regard necessarily to appearance. ‘Appearing in respect of[Pg 543] dress, &c.,’ ‘Appearing as to accomplishments, furnished’ (so New English Dictionary), but it is more natural to take these meanings of the participle as from senses (2) (3) of the verb. It is doubtful whether even the phrase ‘well besein’ used of personal appearance means anything but ‘well furnished.’

1636. fordrive, ‘driven about’ by storms, actually and metaphorically.

1670 ff. Her song is given in the original; it is rather pretty, but very much corrupted in the manuscripts. It begins thus,

‘Per sordes gradior, sed sordis conscia non sum,

Ut rosa in spinis nescit mucrone perire,’ &c.

1681 ff. Several of her riddles are given in the original story and he succeeds in answering them all at once. One is this,

‘Longa feror uelox formose filia silue,

Innumeris pariter comitum stipata cateruis:

Curro uias multas, uestigia nulla relinquens.’

The answer is ‘Nauis.’

She finally falls on his neck and embraces him, upon which he kicks her severely. She begins to lament, and incidentally lets him know her story. The suggestion contained in ll. 1702 ff., of the mysterious influence of kinship, is Gower’s own, and we find the same idea in the tale of Constance, ii. 1381 f.,

‘This child he loveth kindely,

And yit he wot no cause why.’

1830. ‘And all other business having been left’: cp. ii. 791.

1890. With topseilcole: cp. v. 3119,

‘Bot evene topseilcole it blew.’

The word ‘topseilcole’ (written as one word in the best copies of each recension) does not seem to occur except in these two passages. It is evidently a technical term of the sea, and in both these passages it is used in connexion with a favourable wind. Morley quotes from Godefroy a use of the word ‘cole’ in French in a nautical sense, ‘Se mistrent en barges et alerent aux salandres, et en prisrent les xvii, et l’une eschapa, qui estoit a la cole.’ Unfortunately, however, it is uncertain what this means. The vessels in question were in port when they were attacked, and therefore ‘a la cole’ might reasonably mean with sails (or topsails) set, and so ready to start. A topsail breeze would be one which was fairly strong, but not too strong to allow of sailing under topsails, and this is rather the idea suggested by the two passages in Gower.

It should be noted that in F and in some other MSS. there is a stop after the word ‘topseilcole.’

1948. forto honge and drawe: the verbs are transitive, ‘that men should hang and draw them’ (i. e. pluck out their bowels).

[Pg 544]

1983. This must mean apparently ‘They had no need to take in a reef.’ The use of ‘slake’ with this meaning does not seem quite appropriate, but a sail or part of a sail is slackened in a certain sense when it is taken in, seeing that it is no longer subject to the pressure of the wind.

2055. leng the lasse: cp. iii. 71, ‘the leng the ferre.’ This form of the comparative is usual in such phrases, as Chaucer, Cant. Tales, A 3872, ‘That ilke fruit is ever leng the wers,’ and perhaps also E 687, F 404, Compl. unto Pite, 95, where the MSS. gives ‘lenger.’ The form ‘leng’ is the original comparative adverb of ‘long.’

2077. toward Venus: cp. v. 6757. Here it means ‘on the side of Venus.’

2095. sett, imperative, like ‘set case,’ i. e. ‘suppose that.’ The reading ‘sith’ is certainly wrong.

2113. his oghne dom. The word ‘dom’ is used here in special reference to ‘kingdom’ in the line above. ‘Every man has a royal rule to exercise, that is the rule over himself.’

2124 f. ‘When he has not kept possession for himself of his own heart.’

2165. And felt it: we have here the elision-apocope in the case of a preterite subjunctive.

2194. hath nothing set therby, ‘accounted it as nothing.’

2198. withholde, ‘kept’ (in service).

2212 f. Cp. iii. 298, Vox Clam. ii. 1.

2217 ff. This ‘Supplication’ is a finished and successful composition in its way, and it may make us desire that our author had written more of the same kind. The poem In Praise of Peace, which is written in the same metre and stanza, is too much on a political subject to give scope for poetical fancy. The nearest parallel in style is to be found in some of the author’s French Balades.

2245. Whom nedeth help, ‘He to whom help is needful’: cp. Prol. 800, i. 2446.

2253 ff. Cp. vi. 330 ff.

2259 ff. Cp. Balades, xx.

2265. Danger: see note on i. 2443.

2288. Cp. i. 143 ff.

2312. a Mile: cp. iv. 689. It means apparently the time that it takes to go a mile: cp. Chaucer, Astrol. i. 16, ‘five of these degres maken a milewey and thre mileweie maken an houre.’

2319. a game, for ‘agame’: cp. Chaucer, Troilus, iii. 636, 648. More usually ‘in game,’ as l. 2871.

2341. fulofte hath pleigned: as for example in the Planctus Naturae of Alanus de Insulis.

2365. ‘And I will consider the matter’: practically equivalent to a refusal of the petition, as in the form ‘Le Roy s’avisera.’

2367. is noght to sieke, ‘is not wanting’: cp. i. 924, ii. 44, &c.

2378. ‘In no security, but as men draw the chances of Ragman.’[Pg 545] To understand this it is necessary to refer to compositions such as we find in the Bodleian MSS., Fairfax 16, and Bodley 638, under the name of ‘Ragman (or Ragmans) Rolle.’ The particular specimen contained in these MSS. begins thus:

‘My ladyes and my maistresses echone,

Lyke hit unto your humble wommanhede,

Resave in gre of my sympill persone

This rolle, which withouten any drede

Kynge Ragman me bad [me] sowe in brede,

And cristyned yt the merour of your chaunce.

Drawith a strynge and that shal streight yow lede

Unto the verry path of your governaunce.’

After two more stanzas about the uncertainty of Fortune and the chances of drawing well or ill, there follows a disconnected series of twenty-two more, each giving a description of the personal appearance and character of a woman, in some cases complimentary and in others very much the reverse, usually in the form of an address to the lady herself, e. g.

‘A smal conceyt may ryght enogh suffyse

Of your beaute discripcion for to make;

For at on word ther kan no wyght devyse

Oon that therof hath lasse, I undertake,’ &c.

Apparently these stanzas are to be drawn for and then read out in order as they come, for the game ends with the last,

‘And sythen ye be so jocunde and so good,

And in the rolle last as in wrytynge,

I rede that this game ende in your hood.’

Evidently the same kind of game might be played by men with a view to their mistresses. It is much the same thing as the ‘Chaunces of the Dyse,’ where each stanza is connected with a certain throw made with three dice: cp. note on iv. 2792. The name ‘Ragman Rolle’ seems to be due to the disconnected character of the composition.

2407. olde grisel: cp. Chaucer, To Scogan, 35: ‘grisel’ means grey horse.

2415. upon the fet, that is, when the time comes for action. The rhyme with ‘retret’ shows that this is not the plural of ‘fot’: moreover, that is elsewhere regularly spelt ‘feet’ by Gower.

2428. sitte for ‘sit’: cp. Introduction, p. cxiv.

2435. torned into was: the verb used as a substantive, cp. vi. 923.

2450 ff. The situation here has some resemblance to that in the Prologue of the Legend of Good Women, where the author has a vision of the god of Love coming to him in a meadow, as he lies worshipping the daisy, accompanied by queen Alcestis, and followed first by the nineteen ladies of the Legend, and then by a vast multitude of other[Pg 546] women who had been true in love. The differences, however, are considerable. Here we have Venus and Cupid, the latter armed with a bow and blind (whereas Chaucer gives him two fiery darts and his eyesight), with two companies of lovers, both men and women, marshalled by Youth and Eld as leaders; and the colloquy with the poet has for its result to dismiss him with wounds healed from Love’s service, as one who has earned his discharge, while in the case of Chaucer it is a question of imposing penance for transgressions in the past and of enlisting him for the future as the servant of Love. The conception of the god of Love appearing with a company of true lovers in attendance may be regarded as the common property of the poets of the time, and so also was the controversy between the flower and the leaf (l. 2468), which Chaucer introduces as a thing familiar already to his readers. If our author had any particular model before him, it may quite as well have been the description in Froissart’s Paradys d’Amours (ed. Scheler, i. 29 f.):

‘Lors regardai en une lande,

Si vi une compagne grande

De dames et de damoiselles

Friches et jolies et belles,

Et grant foison de damoiseaus

Jolis et amoureus et beaus.

“Dame,” di je, “puis je sçavoir

Qui sont ceuls que puis là veoir?”

“Oil,” dit ma dame de pris;

“Troïllus y est et Paris,

Qui furent fil au roi Priant,

Et cesti que tu vois riant,

C’est Laiscelos tout pour certain,”’ &c.

and she proceeds to enumerate the rest, including Tristram and Yseult, Percival, Galehaus, Meliador and Gawain, Helen, Hero, Polyxena, and Medea with Jason.

I do not doubt that Gower may have seen the Legend of Good Women, but it was not much his practice to borrow from contemporary poets of his own country, however free he might make with the literature of former times or of foreign lands.

2461. who was who: cp. vii. 2001.

2468. Cp. Chaucer, Leg. of G. Women, 72, 188, &c.

2470. the newe guise of Beawme, that is, the new fashions of dress, &c., introduced from Bohemia by the marriage of Richard II in 1382.

2500 f. which was believed With bele Ysolde, ‘who was accepted as a lover by Belle Isolde.’ Apparently ‘believed’ is here used in the primary sense of the verb, from which we have ‘lief.’ For the use of ‘with’ cp. l. 2553. We may note here that the spelling ‘believe’ is regular in Gower, ‘ie’ representing ‘̄ẹ.’

[Pg 547]

2502. Galahot, i. e. Galahalt, called by Mallory ‘the haut prince.’

2504 ff. It may be noted that several of the lovers in the company of Youth are impenitent in their former faithlessness, as Jason, Hercules and Theseus, while Medea, Deianira and Ariadne are left to complain by themselves. Troilus has recovered Cressida, if only for a time. It is hard to say why Pyramus failed of Thisbe’s company, unless indeed she were unable to pardon his lateness (cp. 2582).

2515 ff. Cp. v. 7213 ff.

2553. with Enee: cp. vii. 3359 and l. 2501.

2573 ff. It is likely enough that this idea of Cleopatra’s death may have been a reminiscence of the Legend of Good Women, 696 ff. Chaucer apparently got it from some such account as that quoted by Vincent of Beauvais from Hugh of Fleury, ‘in mausoleum odoribus refertum iuxta suum se collocavit Antonium. Deinde admotis sibi serpentibus morte sopita est.’ From this to the idea of a grave full of serpents would not be a difficult step.

2582. Wo worthe: cp. l. 1334.

2663. I take ‘lay’ to mean ‘law,’ i. e. the arrangement of his company.

2687. Cp. iv. 2314.

2705 ff. An allusion to some such story as we have in the ‘Lay d’Aristote’ (Méon et Barbazan, iii. p. 96).

2713. The punctuation follows F.

2714 ff. This refers to the well-known story of Virgil and the daughter of the Emperor, who left him suspended in a box from her window.

2718. Sortes. It is impossible that this can be for ‘Socrates,’ with whose name Gower was quite well acquainted. Perhaps it stands for the well-known ‘Sortes Sanctorum’ (Virgilianae, &c.), personified here as a magician, and even figuring, in company with Virgil and the rest, as an elderly lover.

2799. Cp. i. 143 ff.

2823. syhe, subj., ‘should see.’

2828. deface: apparently intransitive, ‘suffer defacement’: cp. iv. 2844.

2833. Outwith, ‘outwardly’: so ‘inwith’ often for ‘within,’ ‘inwardly.’ Dr. Murray refers me to Orm. i. 165, ‘utenn wiþþ,’ and Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 6669, ‘outwith.’ The best MSS. have a stop after ‘Outwith.’

2904. A Peire of Bedes: the usual expression for a rosary: cp. Cant. Tales, Prol. 158 f.,

‘Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar

A peire of bedes gauded al with grene.’

2926 f. That is the Speculum Hominis and the Vox Clamantis.

2931. pernable. The best MSS. have this, and it is obviously suitable to the sense: ‘Do not pursue when the game cannot be caught.’ From ‘prendre’ Gower uses ‘pernons,’ ‘pernetz,’ &c., in the Mirour.

[Pg 548]

2938. At this point begins a new hand in F, and for the rest of this leaf (f. 184) the text is written over an erasure (ll. 2938-2966). A note is written opposite l. 2938 for the guidance of the scribe, ‘now haue &c.’ It may be noted that l. 2940 has a coloured initial A as for the beginning of a paragraph, and this apparently belongs to the original writing, whereas in the first recension MSS. the paragraph begins at l. 2941. The next leaf (f. 185) is a substituted one, and the text is written still in the same hand.

The orthography of the new hand, in which ll. 2938-3146 are written, differs in some respects from the standard spelling which we have in the rest of the manuscript. The chief points of difference are as follows:

(1) -id (-yd) termination almost always in the past participle, as enclosid, turnyd, bewhapid, blessid (but sterred), iþ frequently in the 3rd pers. sing. of verbs, belongiþ, seruiþ, causiþ (but secheþ, suieþ), and -in (-yn) in 3rd pers. pl., as takyn, sechin, hierin, schuldyn (also to lokyn). (2) -is (-ys) in the genit. sing, and in the plural of substantives, as londis, mannys, bedis, lawis, wordis (but þinges, myghtes). (3) -ir (-yr) termination, as aftir, ouyr, wondir (but siker). (4)y for i (I) in many cases, especially as the pronoun of the first person (once I), also ys (sometimes), hym, wiþynne. (5) gh for h in such words as sigh, sighte, myghte, knyghthode. (6) ou for o in nought, brought, þoughte, &c. (7) consonants doubled in vppon and vowels in maad (also mad), book, goon. (8) separation of words, as in to, un to, hym self, þer fore, þer vpon, wher of, wiþ outen.

It may be observed that something of the same tendency is observable at this point in the Stafford MS., but the differences appear in a much less marked manner, and chiefly in the terminations -id, -iþ, -is, -ir. S does not give y for I, ys for is, nor myghte, sigh, nought, oughte, vppon, þer fore, &c.

2974 (margin). orat pro statu regni. This marks exactly the stage reached in the second of the three versions which we have of Gower’s account of his own works (p. 480,) ‘vbi pro statu regni compositor deuocius exorat.’ The first completely excuses and the third utterly condemns the king, but the second makes no mention of him either[Pg 549] for praise or blame, and that is the line taken in this form of the epilogue.

3012. maintenue, that is, ‘maintenance’ of quarrels by the lords on behalf of their followers: cp. Mirour, 23732 ff., where the same subject is dealt with.

3081. beth: see Introd. p. cxiv: but it is the reading of F only.

3114. curiosite, ‘artful workmanship’: cp. Chaucer, Compleinte of Venus, 81.

3147. Here, at the beginning of f. 186, the hand in F changes again and the rest of the manuscript, including the Traitié, the Latin poems and the author’s account of his books, is written in the hand which we have in the first leaf of the Prologue.

2955*. his testament of love. There is no reason to suppose that this is a reference to any particular work which Gower may have known that Chaucer had in hand. It may be a general suggestion that Chaucer should before his death compose some further work on love, which should serve as his last testimony (or last will and testament) on the subject, as the shrift of the present poem was our author’s leave-taking. To assume that the poem referred to must be the Legend of Good Women, and to argue from this that the Confessio Amantis was written before the Legend was given to the public, would be very rash. It is not likely that Usk’s Testament of Love was known to Gower when he wrote this.

2991*. This quality of mercy, for which Richard is especially praised, seems to have been precisely the point in which he was afterwards most found wanting by our author, so that he finally earns the title of ‘crudelissimus rex.’ Matters had not gone so far as this when the second form of epilogue was substituted, in which these praises were simply omitted. Gower was then (in the fourteenth year of the reign) in a state of suspended judgement, expressed by the ‘orat pro statu regni’ of 2974 (margin). The subsequent events, and especially the treatment of the duke of Gloucester and his friends, finally decided his opinions and his allegiance, as we may see in the Cronica Tripertita.

3054* ff. See Prol. 83* ff.

3102*. no contretaile, ‘no retribution’ afterwards: cp. Traitié, vii. 3, ‘De son mesfait porta le contretaille.’

3104*. That is, it tends rather to set us free from evil consequences than to bring them upon us.

Explicit, 5 f. The following copies of the first recension contain these last two lines, XERB₂Cath. Of the rest MH₁YGODAr.Ash. are imperfect at the end, N₂ omits the Explicit altogether, and I have no note as regards this point about Ad₂P₁Q. Of the seven which I note as having the ‘Explicit’ in four lines only, three are of the revised and four of the unrevised group. All copies of the second and third recensions have the last two lines, except of course those that are imperfect here.

Quam cinxere freta, &c. The ‘philosopher’ who was the author of this epistle is no doubt responsible also for the lines ‘Eneidos, Bucolis,’ &c. (printed in the Roxb. ed. of the Vox Clamantis, p. 427), in which our author is compared to Virgil, the chief difference being that whereas Virgil had achieved fame in one language only, Gower had distinguished himself in three. The writer in that case also is ‘quidam philosophus’ (not ‘quidam Philippus,’ as he is called in the printed[Pg 550] copy), and I suspect that he was the ‘philosophical Strode’ who is coupled with Gower in the dedication of Troilus.

3. ‘tibi’ belongs to the next line, ‘siue satirus Poeta’ being taken together.

Quia vnusquisque, &c. The form here given is found in no manuscript of the Confessio Amantis except F and H₂ (copied from F), though some other third recension copies, as W and K, may probably have contained it. We have it, however, also in two manuscripts of the Vox Clamantis, the All Souls copy and that in the Hunterian Library at Glasgow.

It should be noted that whereas the first recension manuscripts regularly contain the Latin account of the author’s three books in immediate connexion with the Confessio Amantis, in the second recension it is made to follow the Traitié, and SΔ, which do not contain the Traitié, omit this also, while in F it comes later still, following the Latin Carmen de multiplici viciorum pestilencia. Thus the form which we have in F must be regarded as later than the accompanying text of the Confessio Amantis, from which it is separated in the MS. both by position and handwriting, and the words ‘ab alto corruens in foueam quam fecit finaliter proiectus est’ seem to indicate that it was written after the deposition of Richard II.

11 f. ‘Speculum hominis’ in all copies of the first recension. ‘Speculum meditantis’ over an erasure in the Glasgow MS. of the Vox Clamantis.

25 ff. Note the omission here (of nine words which are necessary to the sense) in every first recension copy except J. Similarly below all except J have ‘finem’ for ‘sentencie,’ obviously from a mistaken reading of a contraction (‘ſiē’). These must be original errors, only removed by later revision, the first no doubt due to dropping a line.

IN PRAISE OF PEACE.

The text of this poem is taken from the manuscript at Trentham Hall belonging to the Duke of Sutherland, which contains also the Cinkante Balades. Of this book a full description has been given in the Introduction to Gower’s French Works, pp. lxxix ff. The present poem is the first piece in the book (ff. 5-10 v^o), and is written in the same hand as the Balades and Traitié, a hand which resembles that which appears in ff. 184, 185 of the Fairfax MS., though I should hesitate to say positively that it is the same. Evidently, however, the manuscript is contemporary with the author, and it gives us an excellent text of the poem. The date of its composition is doubtless the first year of king Henry IV, for the manuscript which contains it ends with some Latin lines (added in a different hand), in which the author[Pg 551] speaks of himself as having become blind in the first year of king Henry IV and having entirely ceased to write in consequence of this.

As a composition it is not without some merit. The style is dignified, and the author handles his verse in a craftsmanlike manner, combining a straightforward simplicity of language with a smooth flow of metre and a well-balanced stanza, the verse being preserved from monotony by variety of pause and caesura. Some stanzas are really impressive, as those which begin with ll. 99, 127, 148. The divisions of the poem, indicated in the MS. by larger coloured initials, have hitherto escaped the notice of editors.

The poem was printed first in the collected edition of Chaucer’s Works, 1532, commonly called Thynne’s edition (ff. 375 v^o-378), and reprinted from this in the succeeding folio editions of Chaucer (e. g. 1561, f. 330 v^o, 1598, f. 330 v^o, 1602, f. 314). There was no attempt made in any of these to ascribe its authorship to Chaucer, Gower’s name being always given as the author. It has been published also by J. Wright in his Political Poems and Songs (Rolls’ Series), the text being taken from the Trentham MS., and it has been included by Prof. Skeat in his interesting collection of poems which have been printed with Chaucer’s works (Chaucerian and other Pieces, pp. 205-216).

Thynne followed a manuscript which gave a fair text, but one much inferior to that of the Trentham copy, both in material correctness and in spelling, e. g.

‘Kyng Salomon whiche had at his askyng

Of god | what thyng him was leuest craue

He chase wysedom vnto gouernyng

Of goddes folke | the whiche he wolde saue

And as he chase it fyl him for to haue

For through his wytte while y^t his reigne last

He gate him peace and rest in to his last’

All the material variations of Thynne are given in the critical notes, but not his differences of spelling. Wright’s text is not to be trusted as a reproduction of the Trentham MS. He made several serious mistakes in copying from or collating it, and he has a good many trifling inaccuracies of spelling. The following are his worst errors:

l. 3 om. this 16 the for thi 71 To stere peace (following Thynne) 108 om. doth tofalle for to falle 136 than for that 173 But aftirwards 202 om. worthi 211 any for a 246 [good] seeming to imply that it is not in the MS. 263 Which heliples 278 reserved for deserved 289 man for king 292 [up] 306 begete for be gete 356 Resteined for Resceived 363 deleated for debated 382 sese for see. In addition to these rather gross blunders, he has about a hundred smaller deviations from the manuscript which he professes to follow, as, for example, 7 for to for forto (and so afterwards) 16 him self for himself (and so afterwards)[Pg 552] 19 But 27 reqwest for reqweste 39 might for myht 56 shal for schal 83 lefte for left 84 not for noght 90 charitie for charite 98 Both for Bothe 102 gone for goon nygth for nyght 110 dothe 112 I 120 Crists 155 fulfilled 172 wille 194 destruied 219 made 254 Ffirst chirche her silf 260 sick 280 life 287 made an end 319 found 355 Which 382 meschiefe and a good many more. He also omits in a very misleading manner the last lines of the rubric which follows the poem, ‘Et nunc sequitur epistola’ &c., as well as the ‘epistle’ itself, ‘Rex celi deus’; and he makes it appear that the lines ‘Henrici quarti’ &c. follow at once, whereas they are at the end of the MS. and in a different hand.

I think it worth while to specify these instances because Wright’s edition has been accepted by Prof. Skeat as an accurate reproduction of a manuscript which is not generally accessible, and if no notice were taken here of the readings given by Wright, it would still remain in doubt whether he or I represented the text more correctly. Especially in the cases where Wright has bracketed a word as not occurring in the manuscript, it might be supposed that his positive testimony was to be preferred.

Prof. Skeat has based his text on Thynne, making such alterations of spelling as seemed to him suitable, and giving the variants of Wright’s edition as those of the Trentham MS. Misled by Wright, he has accepted in his text the readings ‘reserved’ in l. 278, and ‘cese’ in l. 382.

The text given by the Trentham MS. is apparently quite free from material error, except as regards the word erased in l. 71, and the points of spelling which require correction are very few in number. The orthography is not quite in accordance with the standard spelling of the Fairfax and Stafford MSS., and in some respects resembles that of the third hand of F, on which we have commented in the note on Confessio Amantis, viii. 2938. Here however there is only a slight tendency to use i for e in weak terminations. We have distourbid 153, vndefendid: amendid 223 f., handlid 321, soeffrin 222, folwiþ 23, goddis 32, 84, mannys 237, but elsewhere almost always the usual forms, as affermed, cared, gouerned, aken, ledeþ, londes, mannes. On the other hand the -ir termination is used almost regularly, as vndir, wondir, aftir, modir (but vnder 286), and there is a tendency also to substitute i for e in other places also, as first, chirche (also ferst, cherche), wirche, dide (348), proprite, but here for hire 108, 329, cp. 254. For I (pers. pronoun) we have regularly y; gh usually for h in such words as right, myghti, knyght, light, highe, stigh, but also riht, rihtwisnesse, knyht; vppon for vpon, schulde but also scholde. In addition to these points we may note the dropping of -e several times in euer, neuer, which hardly ever occurs in the Fairfax MS., and also in heuen 79, but we have also euere, neuere, heuene. The -e of the weak preterite form is dropped before a vowel in myht 39, behight 41,[Pg 553] had 42, mad 103, 345: -e is inserted in some imperatives, as Leie 122, sette 124, Lete 129, putte 130, þenke 162, Beholde 276 (but let 158, Kep 367, 384, draugh 384). As regards the use of þ and ȝ the Trentham MS. agrees with F.

There is no title in the manuscript, and Prof. Skeat calls the poem ‘The Praise of Peace,’ a title suggested by Mr. E. W. B. Nicholson. I have adopted a modification of this, ‘To King Henry the Fourth in Praise of Peace,’ expressing also the substance of that given by Thynne.

8 ff. The threefold claim of Henry IV is given in this stanza, as in Chaucer’s well-known Envoy, but the ‘conquest’ is here represented as a divine sanction.

50. a place, ‘into place’: cp. Conf. Amantis, v. 735, ‘Hou suche goddes come aplace.’

53. in manere, ‘in due measure’: cp. Conf. Amantis, vii. 2132, 4344.

55. what aftirward betide, ‘whatever may happen afterwards.’

71. The first word of the line is erased in the manuscript, only the initial S being left, with a space for five or six letters after it. The word which is suggested in the text is perhaps as likely as any other: for the form of it cp. ‘Maintene,’ l. 385. Thynne’s reading, ‘To stere peace,’ looks like a lame attempt on the part of a copyist to fill the gap.

78 ff. Conf. Amantis, iii. 2265 ff.

89. I write regularly ‘evere’ ‘nevere’ in accordance with Gower’s practice: so 126, 127, 148, 241, 301, 350, 365.

90. alle charite. The MS. has ‘al charite,’ but the metre and the grammatical usage both require ‘alle,’ as in l. 293 and elsewhere.

94. wisemennes: cp. ‘wisemen,’ Conf. Amantis, vii. 1792.

106 ff. Cp. Conf. Amantis, iii. 2273 ff.

113. Conf. Amantis, iii. 2294 f.

115. Cp. Conf. Amantis, Prol. 444.

121. ‘Whose faith thou hast partly to guide.’

122. I correct the imperative form ‘Leie,’ and also ‘sette’ 124, ‘Lete’ 129, ‘putte’ 130, ‘thenke’ 162, ‘Beholde’ 276, as contrary to Gower’s practice and in several cases disturbing the metre.

150. Strictly speaking, we ought to have the subjunctive, ‘undirstode,’ but the rhyme will not allow.

155. So Prol. 88 f.,

‘The hyhe god him hath proclamed

Ful of knyhthode and alle grace.’

157 f. ‘Peace with honour’ was a favourite thought of Gower’s, ‘pax et honor’ in the Vox Clamantis, vii. 1415.

174. ‘on earth peace, goodwill towards men.’

177 ff. ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.’

204. waited, ‘attended to.’

235. devised, ‘divided’: cp. Conf. Amantis, ii. 3264.

[Pg 554]

236 ff. ‘nevertheless the law stands so reasonably established by man’s wit, that they can stand firm without that’ (i. e. without the help of the Church).

266. Cp. Prol. 795, ‘The comun ryht hath no felawe,’ that is, none to take its part.

278 f. deserved To him. The reading is right. It means ‘earned by service rendered to him’: cp. Conf. Amantis, iv. 3577, ‘Thogh I no deth to the deserve.’

281 ff. For the nine worthies see Caxton’s Preface to Mallory’s Morte d’Arthur.

295 f. The question of winning a ‘chase’ at tennis is not one which is decided at once by the stroke that is made, but depends on later developments.

330 f. Cp. Conf. Amantis, vii. 3161*.

337 ff. Conf. Amantis, ii. 3187 ff.

345. at al, ‘altogether.’

354. the lieve of lothe, ‘they who were now loved but had before been hated’ (by God).

356. I read ‘weren’ for the metre. However the case may be with Chaucer, there is no instance elsewhere in Gower of elision prevented by caesura. The cases that have been quoted are all founded on misreadings.

365 f. Cp. Conf. Amantis, viii. 2988*.

379. of pes, ‘with regard to peace.’

382. see the werre, that is, ‘look to the war’: cp. ll. 137, 144, 281 ff. The reading ‘sese’ was invented by Wright.

Rex celi deus, &c. This piece is to a great extent an adaptation of the original version of Vox Clamantis, vi. cap. 18, as it stands in the Digby MS. The first eight lines are identically the same. Then follows in the Vox Clamantis,

‘Ipse meum iuuenem conseruet supplico Regem,’ &c.

Of the remainder, as we have it here, ll. 25 f., 31-33, 36-39, 41 f., 45-48 correspond with slight variations to lines in the Vox Clamantis version, but the arrangement of them is different.

10. Te que tuum regnum, ‘Thee and thy kingdom,’ a quite common position of ‘que’ in Gower’s Latin. So below, ll. 49, 50, 53, and often elsewhere.

35. So also Conf. Amantis, vii, after l. 1984.

[Pg 555]

GLOSSARY
AND
INDEX OF PROPER NAMES

The general resemblance between Gower and Chaucer in the matter of language makes a comparison of their English vocabularies almost a matter of course. Chaucer’s word-list is naturally much more extensive than Gower’s, not only on account of the superior genius of the writer, but also because of the greater extent and variety of his work, Gower’s English work being less than half of Chaucer’s in amount, and consisting of verse only, while nearly a fourth part of Chaucer’s is prose. We find, however, that Gower has more than six hundred words which are not used by Chaucer. Most of these are comparatively new formations from French or Latin, but there is also among them a fair sprinkling of old-established English words, some of which no doubt were falling into disuse. Such words are, for example: adryh, aghte, anele, arecche, areche, arere v., beȝete, bysne, eldemoder, enderday, ferke, forȝifte, forlie, forworþe, frede, ȝeme, gladschipe, goodschipe, grede (gradde), griþ, heveneriche, kingesriche, lere (= loss), lich (= corpse), metrede, miele, mone (3), mull, orf, orped, rowe v. (= dawn), sawht, skiere, spire v., spousebreche, þarmes, tome s., tote, tyh (pret.), tyt adv., wow, yhte.

Of the rest the following (among others) are words for which no authority earlier than Gower is cited in the New English Dictionary (A-I): those for which Gower is the sole authority are printed in italics.

abeche, ablaste, abord, abroche adv., accidence, agrope, altemetrie, apostazied, apparantie, approbacion, artificier, aspirement, assignement, assobre, assote v., astraied, attempte v., attitled, avant adv., avantance, babe, baldemoine, balke v., baske, bass adj. (‘base’), bedawe, bederke, befole (‘befool’), belwinge, bethrowe, bewympled, bienvenue, bombard, brothell, brygantaille, calculacion, caliphe, carte (= writing), chacable, chace (at tennis), chance v., chevance, circumference, client, coise, cokard, cokerie (‘cookery’), compense, conclave, concordable, congelacion, congruite, contempt, contourbe, courbe s. and adj., decas, deificacion, delaiement, delate (= dilate), depos s., desclos adj., desclose v., desobeie, desobeissance, dispers, distillacion, doubtif, drunkeschipe, duistre, effeminat adj., eloquent, enbrouderie (‘embroidery’), enclin, encluyed, encourtined, enfile, enheritance, ensamplerie, entendable, entendance, entendant, epitaphe, esmaie, espeir, espleit (‘exploit’), exalacion, excessif, excitacioun, excusement, expectant, faie adj., fieverous, fixacioun, flacke, folhaste, folhastif, forcacche, forge s., forstormed, forsueie, forthrere (= furtherer), froise, gaignage, gamme, genitals, godward, gule, hepe (= hook), heraldie, hovedance, injustice, interruption, intersticion, inthronize.

Of these nearly half are used in the English of the present day.

[Pg 556]

For the remainder of the alphabet I content myself with calling attention to the following, without venturing on any statement about their earlier use:

justificacion, liberal, liberalite, lien (= bond), lugge, mathematique, matrone, mechanique, mecherie, menable, mineral, moevement, multitude, oblivion, obstinacie, occupacion, original, passible, perjurie, philliberd (= filbert), piereles, pilage, pleintif adj., pointure, porte (= porthole), preparacion, presage, preserve, proclame, prophetesse, providence, purefie, raile s., recepcion, recreacion, relacion, renounce, reptil, resemblance, restauratif, revelen, riff (= reef of a sail), sale, salvage, scharnebud, scisme, sculpture, seintefic, solucion, specifie, sprantlen, spume, stacion, studious, substitucion, supplante, supporte, temprure, tenetz (= tennis), terremote, tonsure, transpose, trompette.

In matters of vocabulary my obligations are first and principally to the New English Dictionary, then to Prof. Skeat’s Chaucer Glossary, to Stratmann’s Middle Engl. Dictionary (ed. Bradley), and to Halliwell’s Dictionary of Archaisms. With reference especially to Gower I may mention the dissertation by G. Tiete (Breslau, 1889).

The following Glossary is meant to include all the words used in Gower’s English Works, with their various forms of spelling and (where necessary) of inflexion, accompanied with such references as are required for verification of the forms given and for illustration of the different uses and meanings of the words. As a rule, when a word occurs more than once, at least two references are given, but this statement does not apply to inflexional forms. If a word presents any difficulty or is used in a variety of meanings, the number of references is proportionally increased. A complete set of references is given for proper names.

The Confessio Amantis is referred to by P., i, ii, iii, &c., P. standing for the Prologue, and the Roman numerals for the successive books. PP. stands for the poem In Praise of Peace. Word-forms which are not found in the Fairfax MS., or only in the latter part of it, which is written by a different hand, are sometimes enclosed in parentheses. These are also used occasionally to indicate variation of spelling: thus dissencioun (-on) means that the word is spelt either with ‘-oun’ or ‘-on’ termination, wher(e) indicates that ‘wher’ and ‘where’ are alternative forms. In all cases where ‘y’ is used to represent ‘ȝ,’ that fact is indicated by ‘(ȝ)’ placed after the word when it occurs in its place, as beyete(ȝ)

The grammatical abbreviations are, s. substantive, a. adjective, v. verb, v.a. verb active, v.n. verb neuter, v.a.n. verb active and neuter, 3 s.pres. 3rd person singular present tense, pret. past tense, pp. past participle, def. definite form of adjective, &c.

In many cases an explanation is given of the meaning of words for the convenience of readers, but no discussion as to their meaning or origin is admitted in the Glossary.

A.
a, interj. iv. 3622, see ha.
a, an, indef. art. P. 18, 350, (= one) ii. 1169, 1261.
a, (= Fr. à), in a dieu, a fin, see adieu, afyn.
a, in a day, a doun, a ferr, a game, a goddeshalf, a morwe, a nyht, a place, a swoune, see dai, doun, ferr, &c.
Aaron, P. 437, ii. 3047.
abaissht, abayssht, pp. iv. 1330, vi. 2329.
abak, adv. iii. 481, vii. 4363, back.
abandone, abandoune, v.a. P. 766, ii. 1596, 2772, v. 5378, viii. 1834, let go, give up, devote.
abate, v.a. ii. 3171, vi. 2354, vii. 1639;
v.n. tabate, ii. 809.
Abbategnyh, vii. 1458.
abbesse, s. viii. 1849.
abbot, s. ii. 3056.
abece, vii. 158, a, b, c.
abeche, v.a. vi. 709, feed.
abedde, adv. P. 602, i. 1781, 2599.
abegge, v.a. iii. 1828, v. 7522, pay for:
cp. abye.
abeie, see abye.
Abel, viii. 61, 72.
abesse, v.a. i. 2063, abase.
abhominable, a. ii. 3107, vii. 3337.
abide, abyde(n), v.n. i. 859, 1535, 1599, 2909, 3201, ii. 1501, PP. 285, wait, remain;
v.a. ii. 2594, 2626, iii. 1616, viii. 900, wait for, endure:
3 s.pres. abit, abitt, iii. 201, 1658,
pret. abod, i. 151,[Pg 557]
imperat. abyd, iv. 1777,
pp. abide, vii. 2860.
abie, see abye.
ablaste, v.a.pret. v. 3712, blew upon.
able, a. ii. 98, 3258, iv. 267, 2561.
Abner, ii. 3087.
abord, adv. ii. 1138, alongside (of a ship).
aboute, adv. P. 367, i. 403, ii. 1227,
abouten, i. 2529,
aboutes, vii. 2280, viii. 2460, round, round about;
come aboute, bringe a., i. 2629, ii. 1531, 2282, iv. 61, 259:
prep. iv. 1356.
above, adv. P. 891, i. 467, 1610, 1860, 2491, iv. 1595, aloft, at advantage, before this;
hier above, i. 1377;
from above, i. 3278:
prep. i. 810,
aboven, P. 971, i. 2833:
as subst. iv. 914, v. 2542, 7293, vi. 221, advantage.
abregge, v.a. vii. 1990, cut short.
abreid, s. iv. 588, start.
abreide, v.a. vii. 2882, upbraid.
abreide, v.n.pret. i. 155, 2851, ii. 3241, started.
abroche, adv. v. 1677, abroach.
abrod, adv. iv. 3102, v. 6891, abroad.
absence, s. ii. 1321, 1647.
absent, a. iv. 1797, vii. 5181.
Absolon, ii. 3093, viii. 217.
absolucioun (-on), s. ii. 1317, iii. 596, viii. 2892.
abstinence, s. P. 327, vi. 634.
abydinge, s. vii. 502.
abye, abie, v.a. ii. 3022, iii. 221, v. 5541,
abeie, iii. 306,
3 s.pres. abyth, v. 5516,
abeith, vi. 1378,
pret. aboghte, ii. 2153, viii. 217,
pp. aboght, i. 381, 2614, pay for:
cp. abegge.
acale, adv. viii. 638, 847, acold.
accept, a. v. 6394, acceptable.
acceptable, a. vii. 4727, viii. 3035*.
accidence, s. ii. 3210, v. 763, see notes.
accidie, s. iv. 539, sloth.
accioun, s. ii. 388.
accompte, accord, see acompte, acord.
accuse, v.a. P. 487, iii. 2377.
accusement, s. ii. 1703.
Achab, vii. 2529 ff.,
genit. Achabbes, vii. 2552.
Achaie, v. 1907.
Achastus, iii. 2555.
achates, vii. 1362, agate.
Achelons, iv. 2068.
Acheron, v. 1110.
Achias, vii. 4515 ff.
achieve, v.a. P. 92, i. 103, 700, 1257, ii. 1311, v. 1276, finish, attain to;
to ben achieved (= to succeed), ii. 2360,
cp. ii. 3091:
v.n. ii. 372, v. 2043, succeed.
Achilles, ii. 2454, iii. 2642 ff., iv. 1694, 1800, 1970 ff., 2161, v. 2963 ff., 7591, viii. 2545, 2569,
acc. Achillem, vii. 3583.
Achilo, iii. 2566.
Achitofell, ii. 3090.
Acis, ii. 131 ff.
acold, adv. iv. 247, vi. 1007.
acompte, s. ii. 1715, iv. 292, 1653,
accompte, iv. 1062, 2243.
acompte, v.a. iii. 1104, 2281, v. 2014;
v.n. vii. 2226,
tacompte, i. 650.
acord, s. P. 1034, i. 849, 1789,
accord, P. 85, iv. 2069;
in acord, i. 1115;
of thin acord, &c., i. 849, ii. 2536;
in on acord, i. 2250.
acordable, a. v. 2930, in accord.
acordant, a. i. 455, 2436, iv. 1244:
adv. iv. 498, v. 142, viii. 2371.
acorde, v.n. P. 358, 878, i. 388, ii. 105;
thei ben acorded, ii. 630,
thus acorded (pp.absol.), i. 826;
refl. i. 3386, vii. 3241:
2 s.pret. acordest, iii. 2058,
pres. part. acordende, ii. 1612, iii. 603: agree.
acordement, s. vii. 168.
acquite, see aquite.
acroche, v.a. iii. 1047, v. 5624, take hold of, gain.
acte, s. P. 405.
Acteon, i. 336 ff.
Acteos, vii. 855.
adaies, adv. iii. 828, at this time;
now adaies, nou adayes, &c., P. 171, iv. 1228,
cp. ‘on daies nou,’ iv. 1731:
see also aday.
Adam, i. 3304, iv. 2224, v. 1707 ff., 6964, vi. 5, viii. 26 ff.
adamant, s. vii. 833, 1397.
aday, adv. v. 2463,
now (nou) aday, i. 655, iv. 2616, viii. 151,
cp. a day, vii. 438,
now a day, ii. 444:
cp. adaies.
addre, see eddre.
adieu, viii. 2940,
a dieu, ii. 2739, v. 3662.
adoted, pp. vi. 79, infatuated.
adoun, adv. i. 3280,
a doun, iv. 2710, v. 385.
adrad, a. i. 157, 2748, ii. 479, 3489.
adresce, v.a. i. 1722, 2725, v. 1480,
(refl.) v. 5021,
adresse, iii. 2336, arrange, prepare.
Adriagne, Adriane, v. 5332 ff., viii. 2556.
Adrian (1), P. 745.
Adrian (2), v. 4938 ff.,
genit. Adrianes, v. 5155.[Pg 558]
adryh, adv. iv. 1330, aside.
adverse, a. iv. 3403.
adverse, v.a. ii. 1792, oppose.
adversite, s.v. 2232, vii. 3340*.
advocat, s. vii. 2067.
aeremance, s. vi. 1301, divination by air.
afaite, see affaite.
afer, adv. v. 318,
see ferr.
afered, a. i. 2124, iv. 600,
a feerd, v. 7150*.
affaite, v.a. ii. 464, 2851, iv. 3337,
afaite, iv. 1157, v. 6852,
pp. affaited, i. 1259, 1671,
afaited, v. 2000: prepare, train.
affeccioun (-on), s. i. 2858, vi. 1350,
thaffeccioun, P. 366, inclination.
afferme, v.a. P. 189, ii. 2928, iv. 3421, v. 783, confirm, establish;
v.n. v. 857, 2596, declare, affirm.
affiche, v.a. v. 2520.
affile, v.a. i. 678, iii. 516, iv. 3332, sharpen, prepare.
afflyhte, afflihte, aflihte, v.n.pret. i. 2185, ii. 766, iv. 1438, 1556, was disturbed (with grief, joy or fear), was afflicted;
v.a. iii. 1422,
pp. affliht,
aflyht, ii. 1518, v. 5438.
affraie, v.a., pp. affraied, iii. 57, iv. 3400, viii. 2859, startle, frighten.
affray, s. iv. 3068, fright.
afire, adv. see afyre.
afore, prep. iii. 2547, v. 822;
adv. i. 973,
aforn, vi. 927.
afote, adv. iv. 2095.
after, prep. P. 11, 54, 637, i. 809, iv. 1327, v. 1605,
(aftir, viii. 2979 ff.), after, according to:
at after mete, &c., vi. 1181, 1831:
after that, after, (= according as) P. 544, 708, ii. 1586, iii. 1074:
adv. P. 634, i. 999,
(aftir, viii. 3073),
ther after, v. 7030.
aftercast, s. iv. 904, late throw (of the dice).
afterward, adv. P. 74, i. 757, iv. 865,
(aftirward, PP. 55).
afyn, adv. v. 2349,
a fin, iv. 60, finally.
afyre, ii. 149, 2292, v. 1485,
afire, i. 1662.
Agag, vii. 3823 ff.
Agamenon, ii. 2452, iii. 1892 ff., 2186, v. 3101, 6435 ff., viii. 2546.
agaste, v.a.pret. vii. 3716,
pp. agast, iii. 420, iv. 2760, terrified.
agayn, again, adv. v. 3790, 4413, back:
cp. ayein.
age, s. i. 488, 779, 2229, iii. 1237, iv. 604, v. 901,
of age, iii. 1943, v. 1259.
aghte, s. viii. 747, possession.
ago, adv. iv. 943,
cp. agon, ago, pp.
agon, pp. P. 875, ii. 1218, 2696,
ago, P. 31, iv. 2918, 2960, gone, past.
agregge, v.n. v. 7624, grow heavy.
agrise, v.a. iii. 2160,
pp. agrise, P. 598, v. 5908, terrify.
agrope, v.a. and n. ii. 1356, 2814, v. 2858, examine, discover.
agulte, v.n. vii. 3932, do wrong.
ai, see ay.
air, see eir (1).
aise, see ese.
aisshe, s. viii. 2101, ashes.
ake, v.n. PP. 260, ache.
akiele, v.n. iv. 2671, grow cool.
al, all, alle, a., sing. al the, al this, al his, &c., P. 95, 104, 135, &c.,
all his, i. 2291,
all the, viii. 784,
the Cite all, ii. 3473;
alle grace, alle thing, alle untrowthe, alle haste, alle wise, &c., P. 89, 433, i. 301, 747, 925 f., ii. 624, 1259,
but al honour, i. 879,
al untrowthe, ii. 1684,
al Erthe, i. 2825,
al Envie, ii. 168;
pl. all my, al the, all these, &c., iii. 123, iv. 2377, 3165, v. 2685, &c.,
alle, P. 146, i. 992, 1481, 1930, 2877,
alle othre, P. 734, i. 666,
al othre, iv. 1532:
as subst. al, i. 2247, ii. 704, 1027,
pl. alle, P. 826, i. 1443,
upon alle, P. 125, ii. 117, on all occasions,
for al that, iv. 1348, 2278,
cp. vii. 2677,
at al, PP. 345, altogether.
adv. al, P. 13, i. 640, 856, 1068, 1145, ii. 966, &c.,
all, ii. 608, v. 1935,
with a. al lene, iv. 1344,
al one, i. 351, 666, 1526, ii. 2410, &c.,
(cp. alone),
al him one, i. 3144,
al only, ii. 133, iv. 2083,
all thogh, iv. 269,
al be it so, iv. 2393, 2920,
al were there, iii. 2557,
al nere it, v. 997.
Ala Corvi, vii. 1371.
Alaezel, vii. 1380.
alarge, adv. iii. 2139.
Albe, ii. 1855.
Albert, P. 780.
Albinus, i. 2460.
Albumazar, vii. 1239.
Alceone, Alceoun, iv. 2929 ff., 3121 ff.,
Alcione, viii. 2649.
Alceste, vii. 1920 ff., viii. 2640.
alconomie, s. iv. 2459, 2578, alchemy.
aldai, alday, adv. P. 15, 310, i. 2753, iii. 1178,
al dai, ii. 1899.
Aldeboran, vii. 1310.
ale, s. iii. 433, 1626.
alegge, see allegge.[Pg 559]
Alemaine, s. P. 804,
Alemaigne, vii. 751.
Alemans, pl. P. 810,
thalemans, P. 821.
Alexandrine, a. vii. 563, of Alexandria.
Alfraganus, vii. 1461.
alfulli, adv. ii. 501.
algate, adv. P. 646, 894, i. 1296, ii. 2637,
algates, i. 300, iii. 690, in any case, assuredly.
Algol, vii. 1329.
algorisme, s. vii. 155, 158.
Alhaiot, vii. 1338.
alheil, interj. iii. 1261.
aliche, alyche, adv. P. 932, i. 1298, ii. 3253, iii. 68, iv. 2392, 3330,
alich, iv. 2253,
alike, vi. 383.
alihte, v.n., see alyhte.
Alisandre, Alisaundre, P. 693, ii. 1841, 2415, iii. 1227, 2366, 2440, v. 1454, 1571, 2545, 5535, vi. 2273 ff., vii. 5, 22, &c., 3168*, 4234 ff., 5384, PP. 36, 44, 281.
Alisandre, vii. 1255, Alexandria.
alite, alitel, see lite, litel.
allaie, v.a. vi. 310, vii. 5406, alleviate.
allas, interj. v. 3910:
cp. helas.
Allee, ii. 722, 1228 ff.
allegge, alegge, v.a. v. 7326,
pret. alleide, i. 1453, iii. 2155, iv. 1920, vii. 2073;
v.n. v. 6980: allege.
allewey, adv., see alway.
alliance, s. ii. 1184, vii. 2549, viii. 139.
allied, a. viii. 12.
allowe, alowe, v.a. P. 154, i. 1283, 1590, ii. 539, iii. 1552, iv. 2282, v. 564, approve, accept.
allyhte, v.a. v. 4520, lighten.
Almageste, vii. 739, 983, 1460.
Almareth, vii. 1387.
Almeene, ii. 2466.
almesse, s. P. 226, 742, i. 2935, ii. 1471, iii. 2233, alms, good deed.
Almeüs, iii. 2564.
almost, adv. vi. 414.
almyhte, almihte, a. ii. 906, viii. 1384, (almighte, PP. 362).
almyhti, almyhty, a. P. 585, v. 1737, 5741.
alofte, adv. P. 921, i. 885, 2563, iii. 152, vii. 169, on high, aloud.
alonde, adv. ii. 2212, v. 3747.
alone, a. or adv. i. 839, 1523, (allone, PP. 8);
al one, see al.
along, adv. iv. 2817,
along on me, on miself along, on mi will along, &c., iv. 624, 952, 2818, v. 2327, 5881 f.,
long on, v. 2329.
alonge, v.n. v. 3282,
pp. alonged, vi. 1840, desire.
alowd, aloud, adv. ii. 843, 1512, v. 3848.
Alpetragus, vii. 1463.
Alpheta, vii. 1401.
Alphonse, i. 3393.
alquik, a. viii. 2575, alive.
als, adv. P. 565, 1064,
als faste (at once), i. 414, ii. 1267,
als so faste, &c., i. 1041, ii. 132, v. 2288:
cp. also, as.
also, adv. P. 4, &c.,
ek also, i. 3305, &c.,
also wel, i. 1316:
cp. als.
altemetrie, s. vii. 1468.
alter, s. v. 4034,
aulter, v. 4079, (thalter, vii. 4707).
alther best, altherbest, adv. i. 1921, iv. 571,
alther werst, i. 326.
althermest, adv. i. 3102, v. 2897.
althertrewest, a. ii. 499.
altherworst, adv. vi. 238.
althogh, conj. P. 157, &c.,
all thogh, iv. 269.
alto, adv. i. 2415.
altobreke, v.a., pp. altobroke, viii. 624, PP. 221, break asunder.
altogedre, adv. vii. 2962,
cp. togedre.
alway, alwey, alwei, adv. P. 832, i. 1840, iii. 1459,
allewey, iv. 2587.
alyhte (1), alihte, v.n.inf. ii. 423, iii. 182, iv. 3002,
pret. i. 2227, iii. 2659,
pp. alyht, v. 1782, come down, alight.
alyhte (2), v.a., pret. alyhte, v. 1670,
pp. alyht, vii. 4708, light, give light to;
v.n. vii. 3769, be lighted up.
alyve, a. or adv. i. 2164, ii. 645, iv. 2169.
am, art, &c., see be.
Amadas, vi. 879.
Amadriades, pl. v. 6236.
amaied, pp. i. 2030, a-maying.
Amalech, (1) vii. 3711.
Amalech, (2) vii. 4408, (for Balach).
amased, pp. iv. 579, 697, v. 5296, (amasid, viii. 2957).
Amazoine, iv. 2166.
amblaunt, (pres.p.) a. ii. 1506,
amblende, iv. 1309, ambling.
amende, s. v. 7287,
pl. amendes, v. 688, vii. 1585.
amende, v.a. P. 183, 254,
imperat. amende thee, i. 2934,
god thamende, i. 568,
pp. amended, i. 1003, viii. 2608, (amendid, viii. 3010);
v.n. i. 2431, 3350, viii. 1666.
amendement, s. P. 83, iii. 2514, iv. 1768.
Ametus, vii. 1917, viii. 2641.[Pg 560]
amiddes, prep. or adv.,
the wode amiddes, &c., i. 112, 2819,
amiddes in, iii. 2074, iv. 1349,
amiddes of, iv. 2871,
amidde, iv. 1673, 3498, viii. 1038,
amidd, prep. i. 361.
amirall, s. ii. 1090.
amis, amys, adv. P. 48, i. 1970, iii. 17, vii. 2473.
amoeved, pp. iii. 497, iv. 861, moved.
Amon (son of Lot), viii. 236.
Amon (king), iv. 1509.
Amon (nation), vii. 3712.
Amon (son of David), viii. 214.
among, prep. P. 5, i. 669,
amonges, P. 40, i. 1372, among, during:
among, adv. iv. 1209, v. 5984,
evere among, i. 2333, ii. 1079, &c.,
alwei among, iii. 1459, meanwhile, at times.
Amonites, see Amonyte.
amonte, amounte, v.n. i. 3111, iv. 291, 1654, v. 1917, 2581, avail, mean.
Amonyte, vii. 4507,
pl. Amonites, viii. 242.
Amoreie, vii. 3711.
amorous, amerous, a. i. 1414, iii. 745, iv. 921, v. 58,
amourous, v. 1409, vii. 791.
amorwe, adv. ii. 2657, iv. 3194,
amorwe day, v. 2116,
cp. viii. 820,
a morwe, ii. 781, 890.
Amos, vi. 1922 ff., (Jupiter) Ammon.
Amphion, vi. 2160.
Amphioras, iii. 2563.
Amphitrion, ii. 2459 ff.
Amphrisos, v. 4005.
amyraude, s. vii. 1383, emerald.
an, see a.
an, for ‘on,’ v. 496.
anabulla, vii. 1317, (a herb).
ancestre, s. v. 1823, vii. 2884.
ancestrie, s. PP. 12.
ancher, anker, ii. 1136, viii. 606, 1805 f., anchor.
Anchises, iv. 79, v. 1400.
and, P. 2, 12, 155, &c.
Andragene, v. 1398.
Andrew, v. 1907.
Androchee, v. 5233.
anele, v.a. vii. 337, melt.
anemie, see enemie.
angel, s. P. 950, ii. 298, vi. 1530,
pl. anglis, iii. 2256,
angles, viii. 7 ff.
anger, s. iii. 77 ff.,
angre, iii. 379,
pl. angres, iii. 380.
angreliche, adv. iii. 380.
angri, a. iii. 30, 378.
angringe, s. vii. 2665.
anguisshe, anguisse, s. vii. 5081, viii. 1054.
animalis, Lat. a. iv. 2542.
anker, see ancher.
annuied, pp. iv. 1346.
anon, adv. P. 160, 626, i. 1130,
anon ryht, P. 1022,
anon forth, i. 3353,
anon as, i. 471, 1262, iv. 2758.
another, P. 968:
see other.
ansuere, answere, v.n. i. 290, 1461, 1658,
3 s.pres. answerth, i. 1951,
pp.pl. ansuerde, i. 3246.
ansuere, answere, s. i. 1510, 1823, iii. 2407,
ansuer, viii. 907.
Anthenor, i. 1095, 1124, v. 1835 ff., 7274 ff., vii. 1562.
Anthonie, Antonie, vii. 4574 ff., (Caracalla).
Anthonius, vii. 4181, Antoninus.
Anticrist, v. 1807.
Antigonus, vii. 2121.
Antioche, vii. 1247, viii. 275, 387.
Antiochus, v. 7012, viii. 274 ff., 2004.
Antonye, viii. 2577, Marcus Antonius.
Anubus, i. 836 ff.
any, see eny.
anyht, adv. ii. 2857,
cp. a nyht.
apart, adv. vi. 2311.
ape, v. 4995 ff., vi. 1450.
Apemen, vii. 1884.
aperceive, v.a. i. 960, ii. 983, 2138, perceive.
apert, a. iv. 3205, open:
in apert, ii. 686, openly.
Apis, v. 1560 ff.
Apius, vii. 5131.
aplace, adv. i. 1888, v. 735, a place,
i. 2377, iv. 2481, into place.
apointe, appointe, v.a. ii. 791, iv. 273, 1692, v. 708, 4115, vi. 1973,
refl. ii. 3204,
to ben apointed, i. 2160, fix, resolve, appoint.
Apollo, &c., see Appollo.
aportenant, see appourtenant.
apostazied, a. viii. 11, rebellious.
apostles, s.pl. iii. 2499, v. 1797,
sing. thapostel, P. 434, 881.
appaie, apaie, v.a. i. 3429, ii. 594, 1433, v. 146,
pp. appaied, ii. 1433, please, satisfy.
appalle, v.n. iv. 3160, grow faint.
apparant, a. ii. 1320, 1552, vii. 5278.
apparant, a. ii. 1711, heir apparent.
apparantie, s. i. 636, appearance.
apparence, see thapparence.
appartiene, v.n. vii. 1063.
appel, s. (1) v. 7414, vi. 5, apple.[Pg 561]
appel, s. (2), see appell.
appele, v.n. vii. 3171*, 3305*, viii. 2700, appeal.
appeled, pp. iii. 1601, accused.
appell, appel, s. ii. 3418, vii. 5233,
apeel, vii. 3177*, appeal.
appende, v.n. vii. 978, belong.
appese(n), v.a. P. 191, i. 1351, iii. 133, vii. 2006.
appetit, s. iv. 3013, 3544, v. 257.
appiere, v.n. i. 838, 1198, ii. 3337.
applied, pp. i. 577, iv. 2607, v. 913, assigned.
appointe, see apointe.
Appolinus, viii. 375 ff.
Appollo, v. 918, 1072, 5845, 7594, vii. 3189,
Apollo, v. 7111* ff.,
Apollinis (genit.), v. 7109*.
appourtenant, a. ii. 2508, iv. 64, 3131, v. 1496,
appourtienant, vii. 1019,
aportenant, v. 4318.
apprise, aprise, s. i. 81, 293, iii. 2764, iv. 2332, viii. 812, teaching.
approbacion, s. iv. 2519.
appropre, v.a. vii. 430,
pp. appropred, iv. 3223, vii. 499.
aproche, v.n. ii. 40, v. 5623;
v.a. iii. 96, viii. 388,
naproche, iv. 1135.
apropriacioun, s. ii. 2396.
Aquarius, vii. 1187 ff., 1253.
aqueint, pp. vi. 265, quenched.
aqueintance, s. i. 2400, ii. 1178, iv. 85.
aqueinte, v.refl. and n. ii. 3506, iv. 2313,
pp. aqueinted, iv. 2137,
(aqweinted, PP. 328).
aquite, aquyte, acquite, v.a. i. 1594, 2772, iii. 2578, iv. 967, v. 2385, set free, acquit;
i. 1054, remit;
iv. 195, satisfy;
iii. 2671, vii. 3030, requite;
pp. aquit, iii. 2460, iv. 967,
acquited, i. 1054.
ar, adv. ii. 2141, iv. 1422;
cp. er.
Arabe, s. iv. 2627, Arabic (language).
Arachel, vii. 1457.
arai, araied, see arrai, arraied.
arawhte, pret. of arecche (OE. areccan), v. 1826, explain.
Araxarathen, iv. 3675.
Arcenne, Arcennus, ii. 1332 ff., 1534.
arcennicum, s. iv. 2483.
Archade, iii. 2317, v. 1007, vii. 3555.
Archas, v. 6283.
Ardea, vii. 4760 ff.
areche, (OE. arǽcan), v.a. i. 3207, ii. 666, v. 387,
pret. arauhte, vi. 457, attain, reach to:
v.n. i. 3024, iii. 2247, reach up, extend.
arede, v.a.n. P. 601, v. 928, vii. 3703,
pret. aradde, P. 626, i. 2854: explain, give explanation.
arere, adv. iii. 1082, behind.
arere, v.a. iv. 1938, vi. 437, 1107, raise up.
areste, v.a. i. 1644, ii. 162, 2745, iii. 609, delay, keep in check, arrest.
arewe, see arowe.
argue, v.n. vii. 1847, 4196.
argument, s. iv. 1798, v. 7028,
pl. argumentz, vii. 1823.
argumenten, v.n. P. 370.
Arial, vii. 1364.
Aries, vii. 980 ff., 1266.
ariht, adv. i. 2847, ii. 724, iv. 2993.
Arion, P. 1054.
arise, aryse, v.n. P. 1041, i. 1909, iii. 2503,
3 s.pres. arist, P. 504, 545, ii. 474,
pret. aros, i. 2957,
pp. arist, ii. 228,
arise, v. 5907;
v.a. (?) v. 1745.
Arisippus, Arisippe, Arisippes, vii. 2231 ff.
Aristarchus, iv. 2640.
ariste, s. iii. 1224, iv. 1285, rising.
aristologie, s. vii. 1413, birthwort.
Aristotle, Aristote, Aristotiles, vi. 99, 2274, 2412, vii. 4 ff., 50 ff., 3333* ff., 3544, 4257, 5403, viii. 2705.
arivaile, arryvaile, s. ii. 1032, iv. 94, 1927.
arive, see aryve.
arm, s. ii. 2486, iv. 1141,
pl. armes, P. 607, i. 912, ii. 2481.
arme, v.a. v. 3181,
pp. armed, i. 1171, 1998, iv. 1701, v. 3686.
Armene, v. 1397.
Armenye, Armenie, iv. 1245, vii. 1251,
Ermenie, vii. 3218.
armes, s.pl. P. 213, i. 1413, 2528, v. 3627 (feat of arms),
men of armes, ii. 2998, iv. 1625.
(sal) armoniak, iv. 2480.
armonie, s. vii. 165.
arowe, arewe, adv. i. 255, ii. 2038, v. 6955.
Arpaghes, vii. 1800 ff.
arrai, array, arai, aray, s. i. 901, 2512, 2705, iv. 1393, v. 1312, 7488.
arraie, araie, v.a. i. 1748, 2029, ii. 1836, vi. 641, array, prepare;
arraied of (provided with), ii. 2556.
arrive, arryve, see aryve.
Arrons, vii. 4598 ff.
arryvaile, see arivaile.
arsmetique, s. vii. 149, arithmetic.
art, s. iv. 933, 2607.
artemage, s. vi. 1957, magic art.
Artestrathes, Artestrates, viii. 691, 1970.[Pg 562]
Arthus, PP. 283.
artificier, s. vii. 1691.
artmagique, s. viii. 2602.
arwe, s. ii. 2236, v. 1266, arrow.
aryse, see arise.
aryve, arive, arryve, arrive, v.a. ii. 717, 1905, bring to land;
v.n. iii. 1043, iv. 81, 1917, vii. 3269, come to land, come.
as, P. 50, 60, 233, i. 847, ii. 2205,
(= as if) i. 666, 1358, ii. 1047,
as it were, i. 1800,
as who seith, P. 43, i. 1381 &c.,
as he which &c., P. 186, 1020, i. 369,
as him which, iii. 1276,
as of (as regards), P. 492, i. 557, 1969, iii. 1479,
as to, P. 199, i. 300, iii. 2283,
as forto, P. 31, i. 107, 2379,
as tho, ii. 213, iv. 375,
as in (= in), i. 1707, 1940,
as be (= be), i. 1334,
as me thenketh (= me thenketh), iv. 1649,
als ... as, P. 1064: cp. als.
ascape, v.a. i. 1552, 2882 (aschape, v. 7033*), eschape, vi. 1017;
v.n. i. 517, ii. 1982, iv. 2107, eschape, vii. 3466.
ascendent, s. vi. 1963.
aschamed, a. i. 979, iv. 1885.
ascrie, v.n. vi. 1690, vii. 3751, raise a cry.
ascry, s. v. 7546, vii. 3722.
asende, v.a., pret. asente, i. 2138,
pp. asent, i. 1493, 1743,
assent, i. 3222, sent for.
aside, adv. P. 879, i. 1536, 2534, ii. 1426, iv. 2512,
asyde, v. 4512,
gon aside, vii. 2388 (go wrong).
Asie, vii. 533, 554 ff.
aske, askinge, see axe, axinge.
aslepe, adv. i. 1180, ii. 825,
rocke aslepe, ii. 1081,
broght aslepe, iv. 3347.
Asmod, vii. 5335 ff.
aspect, s. i. 3009, vii. 904.
aspidis, s. i. 463.
aspie, s. i. 1172, ii. 1830, iii. 2087, v. 1997,
upon aspie, iv. 1473: spy, watch.
aspie, v.a. i. 312, ii. 305,
pp. aspyd, iv. 1858;
v.n. ii. 100, 515, v. 675,
pret. aspide, ii. 135.
aspirement, s. vii. 256, breathing.
assaie, v.a. i. 1080, 1758, 3028, iii. 647, 1066;
v.n. i. 3430, v. 2680: try, attempt, experience.
assaile, assaille, v.a. i. 1999, iii. 154, 1904,
the feld a., ii. 1838, 2620;
v.n. P. 727, v. 5526, vi. 1308: attack, attempt.
assay, assai, s. i. 690, 791, ii. 3261, iii. 717, v. 273, 4156, trial, proof;
at alle assaies, P. 172, ii. 2447, v. 4883, in every way.
asse, s. i. 2248, iv. 2009, vii. 3251*.
assemble, v.n. ii. 2621, iv. 1953, engage in battle, iii. 189, associate (together);
v.a. ii. 1765, iii. 368, v. 686, 1772, gather together, join.
assent, s. i. 1125, 3380,
thassent, ii. 1479,
of on assent, i. 1494,
of his a., i. 1744,
to hire a., i. 2623.
assente, v.n. ii. 2816, iii. 1976, iv. 3488,
thei ben assented, ii. 2539, cp. viii. 818.
asseure, see assure.
assigne, v.a. i. 234, ii. 1337, iv. 271.
assignement, s. v. 7154, vi. 401.
Assire, v. 1541, vii. 4316.
assise, assisse, v.a. P. 66, i. 1468, 3050, ii. 636, iii. 1866, iv. 280, place, appoint, arrange.
assisse, assise, s. v. 788, 1986, 2878, viii. 778,
thassise, P. 148, order, condition, manner.
assobre, v.n. vi. 291, grow sober;
v.a. vi. 460, sober.
assoile, v.a. iii. 2570, viii. 364;
v.n. pret. assoilede, iii. 2556: absolve, solve (a question).
assote, v.n. i. 508, 781, 2596, ii. 2269, behave foolishly, dote;
v.a. iv. 697, v. 6841, vii. 4319, make foolish, besot.
assuage, v.n. i. 1438, iii. 1614;
v.a. ii. 3208, vi. 587.
Assub, vii. 334.
assure, asseure, v.a. ii. 902, 2013, 2467, iii. 1773, 2202, iv. 3526, assure, satisfy, betroth, pledge.
astat, estat, s. P. 105, i. 599, 2764, iv. 229, viii. 3149,
thastat, i. 2100,
thestat, P. 202,
estatz (pl.), v. 1849.
astellabre, s. vi. 1890, astrolabe.
asterte, v.a. i. 658, 722, 1934, 3381, iii. 163, 240, 566, escape from, elude;
v.n. iv. 724, 1304, v. 808, 5821, escape, be avoided, v. 707, come to pass.
astone, v.n. vi. 1584, be at a loss.
astoned, a. P. 277.
astraied, pp. v. 145, vii. 2660, astray.
Astrathen, vii. 4501.
astray, adv. vii. 2679.
Astrices, vii. 826.
astrologie, s. vii. 680.
astronomie, s. iv. 3246, vi. 1347.
astronomien, s. v. 3083, vii. 348.[Pg 563]
aswoune, adv. ii. 1347, 3237, iv. 3632,
a swoune, viii. 1060.
asyde, see aside.
at, prep. P. 34,
(= to) ii. 2648, iv. 914,
(= by) v. 611:
ate, ii. 59,
ate laste, P. 369, 702,
ate dees, i. 54,
ate feste, i. 2501.
atake, pp. v. 6291, overtaken.
Athemas (1), iii. 1764, 1807.
Athemas (2), v. 4249.
Athenagoras, viii. 1622, 1749.
Athene, Athenes, Athenys, Athenis, iii. 1984, 2131, v. 5235, 5250 ff., 5554, vii. 2221, 2315, 2919 ff., 3058, 3184.
Athlans, i. 424, Atlas.
atir, see atyr.
Atropos, iv. 2756.
attache, v.a. viii. 2698, arrest.
atteigne(n), v.a. i. 754, 1621, ii. 184, 2553,
pret. atteinte, v. 3698;
v.n. i. 2690, iv. 949,
pp. atteignt, v. 2224.
atteint, pp. iii. 2213, v. 7102*, viii. 1947, convicted.
attempre(n), v.a. i. 1354, iii. 236, 1857, iv. 2554.
attempte, v.a. viii. 1419, try.
attitled, pp. v. 882, 1312, 1331, vii. 1004.
atwinne, adv. iii. 2750, v. 5942.
atwo, atuo, adv. iv. 431, v. 73.
atyr, atir, s. i. 1753, 1758, v. 4118, preparation, attire.
auctor, see auctour.
auctorite, s. i. 800, iv. 2628,
autorite, ii. 2925.
auctorize, v.a. vii. 2415, vouch for;
pp. auctorized, vii. 1480, PP. 330, held in repute.
auctour, auctor, s. iv. 2412, v. 947, vi. 1314, vii. 1456.
audience, s. P. 452, i. 2556, 3330, viii. 1842.
auditour, s. v. 1919.
Aufrique, v. 1195, vii. 533, 578, 2088.
Augst, vii. 1100, viii. 2845, August.
augurre, s. iv. 2404,
augur.
auht, see oght.
aulter, see alter.
aunter, s.,
in aunter if, P. 480, i. 189, ii. 480,
in aunter forto, iii. 992,
per aunter, v. 3351,
pl. auntres, v. 5879, venture, adventure.
auntre, v.n. iv. 339,
refl. v. 6522, venture.
Aurora, iv. 3190.
autorite, see auctorite.
availe, v.n. P. 270, 1074, i. 1082, 3114,
(avayle, P. 77*, availle, viii. 3048);
v.a. ii. 91, 265, v. 229,
pp. availed, PP. 191.
avale, v.n. ii. 2353, v. 387, descend;
v.a. iii. 505, viii. 1619, lower.
avance, v.a. i. 2652, ii. 16, 2589, iv. 2116, v. 3006,
avaunce, iv. 2780.
avancement, s. v. 2279.
avant, adv. iii. 1082, in front.
avant, s. i. 2427, ii. 2952, boast.
avantage, s. i. 1575, 2711, ii. 3158, iv. 2358,
thavantages, v. 1978.
avantance, s. i. 2399, boasting.
avantarie, s. i. 2407,
avanterie, i. 2438, boasting.
avante, see avaunte.
avarice, P. 315, v. 8, 21 &c.
avaunte, avante, v.refl. i. 2389, 2567, 2655, 2961, boast (oneself).
avenant, a. vii. 834, comely.
aventure, s. P. 212, 619, i. 1416, ii. 260, 3297, iii. 2016, peril, chance, case;
put (sette) in aventure, i. 3212, iv. 322,
per (par) aventure, i. 1521, 2350, iv. 1101.
aventurous, a. i. 1523.
Averil, v. 5968, vii. 1029.
averous, a. v. 61, 4676,
thaverous, v. 57, avaricious.
Avicen, iv. 2610.
Avinoun, see Avynoun.
avis, s. i. 501, iii. 1804, iv. 1333, v. 1202,
avys, i. 1471, opinion, advice.
avise, v.a. i. 1736;
v.n. iii. 1067, observe;
refl. P. 520, i. 436, 748, 2680, ii. 525, 790, viii. 2365, consider, beware;
be avised, P. 65, i. 996, 1543,
avised with, ii. 635,
(avysed, PP. 233).
avisement, s. i. 3121, iii. 751,
up avisement, iv. 1002.
avisioun (-on), s. i. 845, ii. 3479, vi. 1928.
avoi, interj. viii. 1696.
avou, s. i. 964, iii. 1014, iv. 1511, 1549, 3133, promise.
avouterie, s. v. 873, 1045, 1164, adultery.
avowe, v.a. i. 717, iv. 3438, v. 124, vii. 3163*, PP. 243, declare, justify, vow.
Avynoun, Avinoun, P. 331, ii. 3001.
await, s. iii. 955, 1016, v. 666, watch, ambush:
cp. wait.
awaite, awayte, v.a. i. 1260, 1672, ii. 463, iii. 1368, iv. 263, 808, v. 3004, watch for, attend to;
v.n. i. 907, ii. 2332, 2869, iv. 2119, v. 207, watch, wait.
awake, v.a. i. 887, 1782, 2087, iv. 3228, v. 424, wake, keep awake;
v.n. ii. 2896, iv. 2905,
pret. awok, i. 121, ii. 843, v. 5435, vii. 3717.
awarde, v.a. viii. 2373.[Pg 564]
aweie, adv. P. 132, 849, i. 1110 &c.,
aweye, i. 53,
awey, P. 1069, i. 1323, 2472,
awei, iii. 1711, iv. 1277,
away, awai, ii. 1466, iii. 547, iv. 1186, v. 4024;
schal nevere aweie, iv. 2394,
myhte noght aweie, could not avail, i. 1110,
cp. iii. 349, v. 7179.
aweiward, adv. i. 141.
awher, adv. ii. 393, v. 6585.
awhile (= a while), i. 1842, 2810.
awht, see oght.
awroke, pp. v. 7268, avenged.
awry, adv. ii. 442.
axe, aske, v.a. P. 268, 960, i. 170, 694, 1461, 2149, v. 5472,
imperat. axe, i. 3344;
v.n. i. 160, 881, 1875, ii. 1232, iii. 2747: ask, ask for, demand.
axeltre, s. iii. 1209.
axinge, s. i. 1480, ii. 339, iv. 2128,
pl. axinges, i. 3295, vii. 3911,
askinge, iv. 3494.
ay, adv. ii. 395, 3125, iv. 286,
ai, v. 6419*.
ayein (ȝ), prep. P. 679, 713, i. 1137, 1141, 1284, 2340, ii. 1438,
ayeins, v. 6413, against, contrary to, opposite, to meet;
ayein the day, i. 930, toward morning,
cp. v. 4954,
ayein the dai, i. 2511, with a view to the day.
ayein, ayeyn (ȝ), adv. P. 185, i. 861, 1057, 2090, iii. 1243, iv. 1137, again, back, in reply:
cp. agayn.
ayeincomynge (ȝ), s. iv. 102.
ayeinward (ȝ), adv. i. 1792, ii. 132.
ayer (ȝ), adv. viii. 2226, in the year.
B
babe, s. ii. 3238, iii. 320.
Babel, P. 1019.
babil, s. vii. 3955, bauble.
Babilla, vi. 1325.
Babiloine, Babiloyne, P. 665, 675, 681, i. 2955, iii. 2452,
Babeloine, vii. 3212*.
Babio, v. 4808 ff., 4851.
bacbite, v.a. ii. 411.
bacbitinge, bakbitinge, s. ii. 451, 558, 1605, 1609.
bacheler, s. i. 2594, 3373, ii. 125, 2658, iii. 1343,
bachilier, ii. 2658.
Bachus, v. 141, 166 ff., 1051, 1469, 3138, 6837 (genit.), vi. 396 ff., 502.
back, bak, s. P. 400, i. 2069, ii. 393, 1651, iv. 1344.
badde, a. i. 1246, ii. 513, iii. 1562, iv. 1350,
as subst. vi. 351.
bagge, s. v. 83, 129, 4701.
Baiard, vi. 1280.
baillez ça, vi. 60.
baillie, s. P. 220, i. 783, ii. 1870, v. 1012, vii. 1071, charge, property.
bait, s. iii. 956.
bak, bakbitinge, see back, bacbitinge.
bake, v.a.pp., v. 2408.
bal, s. PP. 296.
Bala, viii. 130.
Balaam, vii. 4413.
balade, s. i. 2709, 2727.
Balamuz, vi. 1320.
balance, s. P. 541, i. 3, 42, ii. 1418, 3244, iii. 559, 2506, scales, danger.
baldemoine, s. i. 1704, gentian.
bale, s. iii. 1496, vi. 67, viii. 589.
balke, v.n. iii. 515, see note.
balsme, s. viii. 1198.
Baltazar, P. 685, v. 7022.
banere, s. ii. 1835, iv. 3220,
baner, v. 492.
Bangor, ii. 905.
banke, s. P. 508, ii. 144, 720,
pl. banckes, iv. 2726.
banne, v.a. iv. 877;
v.n. iv. 2834, curse.
baptesme, s. ii. 609, 899, 3470, v. 1779,
(baptisme, PP. 347).
baptized, pp. viii. 143.
Barbarie, ii. 599, 612, 1172, 1181.
Barbarus, vii. 4335.
Bardus, v. 4956 ff.
bare, a. P. 936, i. 935.
bareigne, a. iii. 2319, v. 824.
bargain, s. v. 2876, 4414, viii. 2431.
barge, s. P. 45*, 234, ii. 1902.
barli, as a. vii. 3705 ff., of barley.
barm, s. iii. 302, vi. 227, bosom.
barnage, s. ii. 2982, baronage.
baronie, s. P. 104.
baske, v.refl. iii. 315, bathe.
(baskle, v.refl. iii. 315, v.l.)
bass, a. i. 1678, low.
bataille, s. P. 214, i. 1081, iii. 2650,
bataile, v. 3429.
bataille, v.n. iii. 1903;
v.a. bataile, PP. 194.
bataillous, a. v. 1211, vii. 889, warlike.
bath, s. i. 1747,
pl. bathes, v. 3801, viii. 484.
bathe, v.n. i. 364, iii. 312;
v.a. ii. 3206.
Bathuel, viii. 115.
be, ben, v. P. 44, 65, 78, 147,
1 s.pres. am, P. 52,
2 s. art, i. 154,
3 s. is,[Pg 565] P. 4
(ys, viii. 2990), we ben, P. 3, be we, i. 2212,
3 pl. pres. be(n), P. 78 &c., (beth, viii. 3081), are(n), vii. 1490, 1718, ar, iv. 1375,
pret. was, P. 3,
2 s. were thou, iv. 600,
pl. were(n), P. 37, 45, weere, v. 6836, wer, ii. 2147,
subj. were, i. 1662, 2545, 3335, iv. 343, weere, iv. 1324, wer, v. 2555,
pp. be(n), P. 582;
be so (that), i. 187, 1458, ii. 1177,
be he ... be he, ii. 254.
be, prep. P. 36, i. 175, 761, 794 &c.,
be name, i. 806,
be nyhte, i. 823,
be me (in my case), i. 1963,
be cause that, ii. 2771,
(by, v. 7021*):
cp. by.
beau, a., beau retret, viii. 2416.
beaute, s. i. 771, 1837, ii. 123.
Beawme, viii. 2470, Bohemia.
beblede, v.a.pp. bebled, ii. 700, iii. 1406, stain with blood.
beclippe, v.a. i. 1790, ii. 2550, iv. 2783, v. 2003,
pp. beclipt, i. 912, embrace, contain.
become, v.n. P. 303,
3 s.pret. becom, i. 932, 2967,
becam, ii. 1189, v. 4949,
3 pl. become, P. 738.
bedawe, v.n. v. 1982, dawn.
bedd, bed, s. i. 876, ii. 828, 856,
to bedde, i. 1780, ii. 822,
goth to bedde to, i. 2604,
beddes side, ii. 833.
beddefere, s. v. 3056,
beddefiere, vi. 1916, bedfellow.
beddeshed, s. iii. 445.
bede, s. P. 273, i. 667, ii. 1472, iii. 2148, iv. 3484,
bedes, iv. 717,
(bedis, viii. 2959),
peire of bedes, viii. 2904: prayer, command, bead.
bederke, v.a. i. 1169.
bedroppe, v.a. vii. 4832, cover with drops.
beerdles, a. v. 7202*.
beere, s. vii. 5098, bier.
befalle, v.n. P. 26, 501, i. 55, 1397, vii. 655,
pret. befell, P. 702, i. 67,
(bifel, P. 35*),
3 s. pres. subj. befalle, P. 69*, i. 1397,
3 s. pret. subj. befelle, iv. 2773.
beflain, v.a.pp. vii. 2897, flayed.
befole, v.a. P. 200, vii. 4293.
before, prep. i. 2054, ii. 1048,
befor, ii. 573;
adv. i. 1228, ii. 569,
before tyme, P. 848,
beforn, P. 843.
befrose, pp. ii. 1820.
begert, pp. vii. 2863.
begete, v.a., pret. begat, v. 900,
beyat (ȝ), v. 1396,
pp. begete(n), iv. 3249, v. 3194, 7313, vii. 5137.
begge, v.a. v. 1785*, buy:
cp. beie.
beggere, begger, s. i. 2249, iv. 2249, v. 2414,
pl. beggers, v. 2395.
beginne, v.a.n. P. 266, 659, 835, i. 2331,
begynne, P. 404,
3 s.pres. beginth, vi. 760,
pret.s. began, P. 667, 973, i. 13,
pl. begunne, iii. 742, 1128,
begonne, iv. 1045,
pp. begonne, P. 688, iii. 1260,
begunne, i. 1138;
beginne of, i. 2550, 2562,
began to, i. 1446;
I am to beginne, ii. 512,
cp. iii. 1320, iv. 956.
beginnyng(e), s. vii. 79, 596.
bego, v.a., pp. bego(n), i. 3252, iv. 556, 606, work upon, furnish;
pp. with adv. iii. 1157, vi. 1553,
wel begon of, ii. 1323,
wel b. with, iv. 1313,
cp. v. 2335,
wo bego(n), iv. 3394, v. 4348.
begrave, v.a. i. 2348,
pp. begrave, ii. 887, 2649, iv. 2171, bury;
pp. begrave, i. 2541, engraved.
begripe, v.a. vii. 536, encompass.
begrowe, pp. v. 6831, grown over.
beguile, v.a. i. 677, 705, ii. 651, iii. 2180, deceive, betray.
behelde, see beholde.
beheste, s. P. 81*, i. 1100, 1270, PP. 41, promise, assurance.
behete, behiete, behihte, see behote.
behinde, behynden, prep. i. 2069, ii. 483:
adv. i. 227, ii. 282,
behynde, v. 2706.
beholde(n), v.a. P. 35, 840, i. 199, &c.
(biholde, vii. 3156*),
behelde, vii. 1856,
3 s.pres. beholt, i. 2700, ii. 2434,
3 s.pret. behield, i. 414, v. 5441,
beheld, ii. 1833,
pl. behielde, iv. 3090,
pret. subj. behelde, iv. 574,
pl. behielden, P. 360,
imperat. behold, P. 551, ii. 771.
beholde, pp. v. 94, vii. 4175, bound.
behonge, v.a. v. 7489, vi. 1839.
behote, v.a.n. inf. iv. 1824,
1 s.pres. behote, i. 1233, 2678,
behete, behiete, iv. 638, 3144, 3470, v. 6701,
3 s. behet, i. 1954,
3 pl. behote, ii. 1664,
pret. behihte, i. 1565, iii. 1014, iv. 1555, v. 1476, 4979,
behyhte, v. 7014,
(behighte, behight, viii. 3124, PP. 41),
pp. behyht, behiht, i. 1694, vii. 3286*; promise, assure, pronounce, dedicate.
behove, s. P. 358, ii. 1674, vii. 1332, advantage.
behove, v.n. iii. 640, 1114, vii. 1711, 2025, viii. 2426,
behoveth nede, vii. 1353: be needful, help, ought.
behovely (-li), a. i. 2393, iii. 1330, v. 1757, PP. 304,
(bihovely, vii. 3159*),
behovelich(e)[Pg 566], v. 4012, vii. 1975; profitable, helpful.
beie,
v.a. ii. 3061, iii. 639,
3 s.pres. beith, v. 4396,
pret. boghte, ii. 2397, 2736, iii. 380,
pp. boght, iii. 894, 2066, buy, pay for, avenge;
cp. begge.
beinge, s. vii. 90 ff.
bejape, v.a. i. 2363, ii. 2489, iv. 900, v. 3207, 6216, deceive, mock.
beknowe(n), v.a.n. i. 593, 1376, ii. 275, vi. 1390,
pp. beknowe(n), P. 1039, i. 550, v. 6466,
imperat. beknow, ii. 883, make known, confess:
I am beknowe, i. 550, 1940,
I am beknowe ... this, ii. 236,
cp. v. 2855.
Bel, v. 1556 f.
Bele Ysolde, vi. 472, viii. 2501.
beleve, v.n. P. 10, i. 1516, ii. 2524, iv. 2816,
pret. belefte, v. 5698, remain:
is beleft, was beleft, ii. 2569, 3458,
is belaft, vi. 2346.
(belie), v.a.,
3 pl. pret. beleie, v. 7581,
pp. belein, i. 1993, iii. 1757, 2046, iv. 2147, besiege.
believe, v.a.n. P. 284, i. 580, 1215, 2012, ii. 629, 2136, iii. 2222, viii. 2500,
beleve, v. 6124; believe, believe in, trust.
believe, bilieve, s. P. 91, i. 699, 894, 1216, ii. 3396, iii. 967,
beleve, vi. 62,
pl. believes, v. 748, 951; belief, faith, religion.
belle, s. i. 1949, 2391, ii. 1728, iv. 346.
beloke(n), pp. ii. 3393, iv. 3667, shut up.
belonge, v.n. P. 67, 259, i. 691, 2345, 2904, iv. 2293, 3307, (3 s.pres. belongith, viii. 2997 ff.), belong, be fitting.
beloved, a. P. 38, i. 1920, v. 4365.
Belus, v. 1546, 1556.
belwe, v.n. iv. 2113, bellow.
belwinge, s. vii. 3322, bellowing.
Belzebub, v. 1557.
bemene, v.a. i. 1540, iii. 1983.
bench, s. v. 4383.
bend, s. vi. 296, band.
bende, v.a.n.,
pret. bende, ii. 2235, vii. 4749,
pp. bent, iii. 449, viii. 2453.
bene, s. v. 4408, bean.
Benedab, vii. 2539 ff.
benedicite, interj. i. 205.
benefice, s. P. 316,
pl. benefices, ii. 2338.
beneicoun, s. iii. 939.
benethe, adv. P. 931, i. 2527;
prep. vii. 721.
benigne, a. iii. 215.
bente, a.pl. vii. 4418, arched.
benyce, v.refl. viii. 2769, befool (oneself).
benyme, v.a.,
2, 3 s.pres. benymst, benymth, iii. 1309, v. 7002,
pp. benome, vi. 36, take away.
beqwath, v.a.pret. PP. 178.
berd, beerd, s. i. 2045, v. 7113*, 7149*, viii. 1303, beard.
bere, s. ii. 160, vi. 1450, bear.
bere, v.a. P. 294, 492, i. 850,
3 s.pres. berth, i. 467, iii. 1784,
pret.s. bar, P. 908, i. 434,
pl. bere, beere, i. 2795, iv. 1323, 1376, vii. 1796,
pret. subj. beere, iv. 2749,
pp. bore, i. 773, 2788, ii. 933, 2635,
boren, ii. 976,
ybore, ii. 499;
bar (berth) on hond, iii. 664, iv. 32, v. 546,
berth an hond, v. 496.
bereined, pp. i. 2915, vii. 1234.
Berenger, P. 780.
bereve, v.a. P. 411, vii. 3245*,
pret. berefte, P. 744, vii. 3840,
beraft, v. 5647,
pp. beraft, viii. 209.
beried, pp. iii. 293.
berille, vii. 1349.
Berillus, vii. 3309.
berke, v.n. ii. 1796,
3 s.pret. bark, ii. 1861.
berne, s. ii. 86, v. 4907, barn.
Bersabee, vi. 97, viii. 2690.
berste, v.n. viii. 1068.
berthe, s. iv. 2231, v. 827.
besant, s. v. 1930.
Besazis, vii. 1884.
beschade, v.a. iv. 3207, vii. 743, 809;
cp. bischadewe.
beschrewe, v.a. i. 1036, iii. 810, curse.
beschrewed, a. i. 640, iii. 480, evil-disposed.
beschyne, v.a. vii. 4465, shine upon.
(be-se), v.a.,
pret. pl. besihe, viii. 1617, look after, prepare:
pp. besein, beseie, P. 559, i. 358, 2360, iv. 1384,
wo besein, ii. 262,
besein of, iii. 1844,
besein to, iv. 180, provided, equipped, prepared.
beseche, v.a.n. i. 589, 1339, 1985, 2174, 2259 &c.,
besieche, viii. 2912,
beseke, ii. 960, v. 916, 1355;
pret. besoghte(n), i. 1808, 2640, ii. 108, 1212, 1483, v. 1459,
besoughte, v. 3440,
besoughten (pl.), P. 198,
pp. besoght, v. 6230,
imperat. besech, i. 2937.
beseke, see beseche.
beseme, v.a. i. 2013, ii. 2935, iv. 745.
besette, v.a. i. 3237, iv. 1482,
pp. beset, i. 2538, 2736, ii. 3252, iv. 1567, v. 555,
besett, iv. 496, set, employ, bestow.[Pg 567]
besi, besy, a. ii. 1764, iv. 235, 509, 953.
beside, besyde, prep. i. 2305, iii. 294, 530, vii. 2242,
besiden, v. 7311, beside, contrary to:
adv. P. 446, 801, ii. 60, 1993, by the side, aside, as well:
faile and go beside, iv. 2862,
cp. v. 2428, vi. 1248, vii. 4458.
besien, v.refl. iv. 1183, 1230.
besiliche, adv. i. 373, iv. 57, 1235,
besily, iv. 2185.
besinesse, s. i. 1130, ii. 460, 1074, iv. 513, viii. 3052*,
besynesse, P. 49*,
bisinesse, P. 63,
(businesse, PP. 226).
besischipe, s. iv. 1119.
besnewed, pp. i. 2044, vi. 1498.
besowed, pp. viii. 1114, sewn up.
besprede, v.a. vii. 1150,
pret. bespradde, viii. 2655,
pp. bespred, v. 6917.
best, a. i. 1525,
the beste, i. 768,
pl. iii. 500;
as subst. for the beste, to the beste, i. 997, 1748, 2488,
thi beste, i. 1603:
adv. best, P. 337, ii. 2676.
bestad, pp. i. 1049, 2584, ii. 69, 922, 1149, iii. 77, vii. 3228*, situated, engaged, troubled.
bestaile, s. v. 331, 1022, cattle.
beste, s. P. 909, i. 976, 2828, beast.
bestere, v.refl. ii. 3196, viii. 609.
bestial, a. i. 2913.
bestly, a. i. 3025.
bestowe, v.a. iv. 2472.
beswike, v.a. i. 498, 760, deceive.
beswinke, v.a. v. 6085,
pp. beswunke, i. 2646, labour for.
besyde, see beside.
bet, a. v. 4715:
adv. i. 1976, 2514, iii. 349, 2239;
for bet for wers, iv. 673:
cp. betre.
betake, v.a. iv. 1431,
3 s.pres. betakth, iii. 1978,
pret. betok, iv. 3327,
imperat. betaketh, ii. 1036,
pp. betake(n), P. 309, i. 80, vii. 1335, viii. 2960; give, deliver, commend:
betaken (pp.), v. 743, taken.
bete, v.a.n. P. 428, i. 1155, ii. 2356,
pret. bet, iii. 997, vii. 4615,
pp. bete(n), iii. 974, v. 1960, vii. 4635, beat.
beteche, v.a. vii. 4234,
pret. betawhte, betauhte, betaghte, iii. 1940, v. 3575, viii. 748,
pp. betawht, vi. 2411, viii. 120, deliver.
bethenke, v.a.n. PP. 101,
pret. bethoghte, vi. 1165,
pp. bethoght, iv. 142, think of, remember;
refl. he him bethoghte, i. 798,
cp. i. 2116,
bethoughte hire, v. 3423;
I am bethoght, i. 1267,
this I am bethoght, iii. 1250,
bethoght, ii. 2906.
Bethincia, v. 1141.
bethrowe, pp. vi. 114.
betide, betyde, v.n. i. 149, 2265, iv. 1024, 1779,
3 s.pres. betitt, ii. 1997,
pret. betidde, betydde, ii. 2463, vi. 1607,
betidd, vii. 4381,
pp. betid, P. 182, v. 2101,
betidd, iii. 473, v. 6254, happen, come to pass.
betokne, v.a. P. 594, 628, i. 2888, ii. 731, vii. 1757 ff.;
v.n. ii. 1804, vii. 4518.
betraie, v.a. i. 1079, ii. 1181, viii. 1923.
betrappe, v.a. iii. 1358, vii. 4915.
betre, bettre, a. P. 352, i. 1556, 2424, iv. 37;
subst. the betre, v. 7393:
adv. P. 543, i. 720,
the betre, i. 1543:
cp. bet.
betwen, betuen, prep. P. 18, i. 2164, ii. 411, 653, v. 5025, 5718,
hem betwene (betuene), P. 790, 1000, v. 3062:
adv. betwene, ii. 942.
betyde, see betide.
bewake, v.a. v. 3498, 6611, watch, watch through.
bewar, v.imperat. (= be war), ii. 571, iii. 1496, 1738, v. 6048.
beware, v.a. P. 394, ii. 3066, 3359, iii. 2219, vii. 2518, spend, employ.
beweile, v.refl. i. 972, iv. 2958.
bewelde, v.refl. iii. 990, vii. 510, viii. 3041*, have power over (oneself).
bewepe, v.a. iv. 1565, vii. 2888.
bewhape, v.a. vi. 80, vii. 4267, viii. 2219,
(pp. bewhapid, viii. 2955), bewilder, amaze.
bewounde, v.a.pp. v. 5008, viii. 1178.
bewreie, v.a. ii. 1530, v. 701, 2940, viii. 454,
pp. bewreid, v. 6785, reveal, expose.
bewympled, pp. v. 6913.
beyelpe (ȝ), v.refl. vii. 2096, boast (oneself).
beyende (ȝ), prep. i. 424.
beyete (ȝ), s. P. 304, 784, i. 1194, 2684, ii. 2355, iv. 1709, gain, property, possession.
bible, s. P. 354, i. 2788, iv. 1960, 2655, v. 7025, vii. 2527, 3624, viii. 224.
bidde, v.a.n. P. 458, i. 884, 934, 1556,
bidde his bede, v. 6985,
3 s.pres. bit, i. 1310, iv. 1161,
bidt, iv. 1162, 2802,
pret. bad, P. 45*, i. 157, 1535, 2902, ii. 1140,
badd, vi. 1735,
pl. bede, i. 2048, iii. 750,
biede, viii. 1507,
pret. subj. bede, iv. 2905, vi. 1356,
imperat. bidd, iv. 1434, v. 7588,[Pg 568]
pp. bede, i. 813, 841, iii. 1557,
beden, i. 2520; bid, command, invite, ask for, pray:
cp. biede, with which bidde has been confused.
biddinge, s. i. 2552.
bide, v.n.,
pret. bod, viii. 519, 2310, stay.
biede, v.a. v. 4455,
pp. bode, P. 244, i. 2865, command, demand:
cp. bidde.
bienfait, s. iii. 758,
bienfet, vii. 3029.
bienvenue, s. ii. 1503.
bile, s. iv. 2710, 3108, v. 6526.
bilieve, see believe, s.
bille, s. viii. 875, 889, 2324, writing.
bime, see byme.
binde, bynde, v.a.n. i. 1623, v. 3606, viii. 2811,
3 s.p. bint, vi. 72,
pret.s. bond, v. 853, 5056,
pl. bounden, v. 151,
pp. bounde(n), i. 2538, ii. 540, iii. 2095.
bischadewe, v.a. viii. 3008*.
bisinesse, see besinesse.
bisschop, bisshop, ii. 904, 936.
bisschopriches, s.pl. P. 208.
bisse, s. vi. 990, fine linen.
bite, v.n. iii. 119,
pret. bot, vi. 5.
Biten, v. 1402.
biter, a. vi. 250,
def. biter, vi. 371,
bitter, viii. 2256;
the bitre (as subst.), i. 1708.
biternesse, s. vi. 344.
bitterswete, s. viii. 191:
cp. vi. 250.
blad, bladd, s. iii. 252, iv. 927.
blak, a. iv. 1343, v. 4045,
blake, def. i. 1167,
voc. iv. 2842,
pl. iv. 2494.
blame, s. i. 630, 1017, 2074, 3056;
as a. i. 2405.
blame(n), v.a. P. 60*, i. 3053,
to blame(n), P. 538, i. 3054, v. 5210.
blameles, a. vii. 3816.
blaminge, s. v. 1455.
blanche, a. (fem.) vi. 239.
blase, v.n. ii. 2949.
blase, s. v. 3510, 4089, viii. 2444.
blast, s. i. 1069, 2411, iii. 419.
bleche, a. v. 2477, wan.
blede, v.n. ii. 840, vi. 1746.
blenchinge, s. vi. 205, 1867.
blende, v.a.,
3 s.pres. blent, v. 2492,
pret. blente, v. 3467,
pp. blent, i. 1126, v. 2165, blind, conceal.
blesse, v.a. i. 3418, v. 1238,
(pp. blessid, viii. 3104);
v.n. i. 620, v. 5022, cross oneself.
blessed, a. vii. 3260.
blessinge, s. ii. 3317, v. 1281.
blew, a. as subst. iv. 1317, vii. 2188, blue.
blind, blynd, a. i. 47, ii. 355, 759, v. 980,
blinde, P. 139,
def. i. 621, 2490, ii. 1822,
pl. i. 228, 927, iii. 1465, v. 2959;
the blinde (blynde), as subst. P. 536, i. 2952, v. 536,
cp. vii. 2470: blind, deceitful.
blindly, adv. viii. 2385.
blisse, s. i. 1771, v. 544, viii. 33.
blithe, blythe, a. ii. 18, 657, v. 6140, viii. 929.
blockes, s.pl. iii. 1033.
blod, s. i. 2235, 3170, vi. 840, vii. 4132,
blood, vii. 423.
blodi, a. P. 757, iii. 1400,
blody, ii. 861.
blowe, v.a.n. P. 923, i. 1065, 2133, 2411, ii. 1122, 2134, v. 1818,
pret. blew, bleu, i. 2143, iii. 1025, v. 5409,
blewh, ii. 2892,
pl. blewe, vi. 2263,
pp. blowe, i. 2298, iv. 735, vii. 3041.
blowinge, s. iv. 2484.
blythe, see blithe.
blyve, blive, adv. iii. 1044, viii. 515, quickly;
als (as) blyve, iv. 1854, v. 3318,
cp. vi. 1430: forthwith.
boc, see bok.
bode, v.a. i. 3282, proclaim.
bodi, body, s. P. 474, 995, ii. 977,
pl. bodies, iv. 1320, 2463.
bodili, bodily, bodely, a. ii. 3256, v. 193, 1775,
bodiliche, ii. 3344, vi. 397:
adv. bodily, ii. 2969 (= in person), iii. 767,
bodely, iv. 975.
boiste, see buiste.
bok, s. P. 18, ii. 868
(book, viii. 3108),
boc, vii. 480,
in boke, iv. 978,
pl. bokes, P. 2, i. 2458.
boke, v. P. 51*, iv. 2664, viii. 1328, record, write books, teach with books.
bold, a. ii. 1690, iii. 1846, iv. 2192,
pl. bolde, vii. 4355.
bole, s. iv. 2112, vii. 1017, 3313, bull.
bombard, s. viii. 2482, (a musical instrument).
bon, s. i. 1531, ii. 2291, iii. 463,
pl. bones, ii. 2302, vi. 2309.
bond, s. ii. 2112, iv. 894,
pl. bondes, P. 502, ii. 3027, iv. 2105.
bonde, a. vi. 74, bond (slave).
bondeman, s. viii. 1358.
bone, s. ii. 768, 1430, vii. 3899, petition, boon.
Boneface, Bonefas, ii. 2940, 2950 ff.
bor, s. vii. 5255, boar.
bord, s. i. 2111, ii. 689, iv. 400, viii. 720,
pl. bordes, i. 2529, ii. 1426, iv. 3018, board, table;
iv. 1741, side (of a ship),
schipes bord, v. 3922, viii. 987,
over bord, viii. 1140.[Pg 569]
borde, s. iii. 741,
pl. bordes, vii. 4799, viii. 1676, jest.
bordel, s. v. 1054, viii. 1411 ff., brothel.
bordeller, s. viii. 1415.
borwe, v.a. n. iv. 10, v. 6640, 7665.
borwe, s., to borwe, iv. 774, 960, v. 3416.
bost, s. iii. 2083, v. 2142, vii. 3482, boast.
bot, s. P. 44*, i. 1960, ii. 1108,
be bote, P. 40*,
to bote, v. 3731; boat.
bot, prep. vii. 694, beyond: conj. P. 12, 56, 73 &c.,
but, P. 63* f., 168,
bot (= only), P. 454, i. 675, (= unless) P. 144, i. 1543, ii. 374, v. 473,
ne ... bot, i. 264,
noght ... bot, ii. 1587,
bot if, P. 345, i. 441, 1546,
bote (except), ii. 2392, (but) v. 2015.
bote, s. i. 28, 2232, ii. 2051, iv. 133,
do bote, ii. 2274, iii. 2272: remedy, help.
boteler, s. i. 2593, vi. 295 ff.
Botercadent, vii. 1419.
bothe, s. viii. 170, booth.
bothe, a.pl. P. 159, i. 317,
bothe tuo, P. 1068, i. 851,
bothen, i. 1829, vii. 2469,
oure herte bothe, iii. 1473,
bothe also, iii. 1471;
as adv. i. 1106, iv. 1874.
botme, s. i. 1961, bottom.
bouele, s. v. 4137.
boun, a. viii. 1407, PP. 17, ready.
bounde, s. iv. 2506, vi. 634.
bounde, v.a. ii. 1754, vii. 560.
bounte, s. v. 2595, goodness.
bowe, s. i. 1967, ii. 151, 2234, 2956, iv. 2983, bow.
bowe, v.n. P. 153, i. 718, 1238, 1248, 1284, ii. 3225, iv. 1130, bow, bend, turn aside, submit.
bowh, s. iv. 856, 1331,
pl. bowes, i. 2824, 2902, bough.
Bragmans, pl. v. 1453.
braie, v.n. i. 3027.
brain, s. i. 2568, iv. 107,
brayn, v. 1463.
branche, s. P. 346, iv. 3688, v. 1965,
braunche, i. 2311.
Branchus, i. 1428, 1456.
Brangwein, vi. 473.
bras, s. P. 610, i. 1087, iv. 236, 2472.
breche, s. v. 332.
bred, s. ii. 1856, iii. 446.
brede, s. iii. 1963, v. 5661, breadth.
brede, v.a. i. 542, iii. 1322, v. 7700.
breide, v.a. vii. 4332, braid.
breide, v.a., pret. iii. 1429, viii. 1377, drew.
bregge, s. v. 2205, vii. 2242, bridge.
breke, v.a. P. 148, i. 1303, 1334, 1512;
v.n. i. 1248, 1700, ii. 3008:
pret. brak, ii. 3008, iv. 847, v. 1710,
pp. broke, P. 653, ii. 3394.
brenne, v.a. n. P. 329, i. 323, ii. 5, 23, iv. 820,
3 s. pret. brende, ii. 2302, v. 1100,
brente, v. 1667,
3 pl. brenden, i. 1184,
pp. brent, i. 2006,
def. brente, v. 7210, burn.
brennynge, s. vi. 2232.
brere, s. P. 409, 413, briar.
brest, s. P. 607, i. 662, 1327, iii. 2011, v. 1384,
briest, viii. 2175, breast, heart.
Bretaigne, vii. 752.
breth, s. i. 119, 2127, ii. 530, iii. 289, iv. 2758.
brewe, v.a. ii. 246, iii. 1626.
Brexeïda, ii. 2455.
brid, s. i. 101, 2703,
bridd, i. 2088,
pl. briddes, i. 111, 1728.
bridel, s. i. 1697, ii. 3009, iii. 1629, iv. 1203,
brydel, iv. 1434.
bridlen, v.a. i. 2037, viii. 2707.
briht, bryht, bright, a. v. 3110, vii. 734,
def. bryhte, v. 3169,
brighte, v. 2783,
pl. brihte, iv. 988,
bryghte, iii. 1039.
brihte, bryhte, adv. v. 36, 3732,
bryht, vii. 1857,
compar. bryhtere, brihtere, iv. 1322*, vi. 1525.
brimme, s. v. 4968.
bringe, v.a. P. 348, i. 1318, 1447,
3 s. pres. bringth, P. 1082,
pret. broghte, P. 760, ii. 1246, iv. 2951, broughte, v. 3934,
pp. broght, P. 623, i. 788, brought, iii. 604,
imperat. bring, vi. 1728;
bringen forth, iv. 3119, forth broghte, ii. 1246, broght aboute, iv. 2352.
bringere, s. v. 345.
brinke, s. i. 2310, 2980, iii. 1408.
brocage, s. v. 341, 4426, 4590, viii. 3033.
broche, s. v. 6173, brooch.
brocour, s. v. 4387 ff., 4573.
brod, brood, s. ii. 383, v. 4375, brood.
brod, a. iv. 3164, v. 6792,
pl. brode, i. 1729, 1749, v. 1266, broad:
adv. v. 1086, (broode, PP. 201).
brond, s. v. 1485, 4089.
brothell, s. vii. 2595, worthless fellow.
brother, s. P. 1050, i. 2071, PP. 266,
genit. i. 2139, ii. 1197, iv. 2944,
pl. brethren, v. 799, vi. 1077.
browe, s. i. 1589, 1678, vii. 4418.
brustle, v.n. iv. 2732.
Brut, P. 38*.
brutel, s. P. 877, brittle.
Brutus, vii. 4735 ff.
bryd, s. i. 1788, bride.
brygantaille, s. P. 213, irregular troops.[Pg 570]
bryht, see briht.
buck, s. iv. 1300, 1978.
buille, buile, v.n. iii. 431, v. 1487, 4121,
pres.p. buillende, v. 2221.
buissh, s. i. 359, 2984, ii. 2356,
bussh, i. 2044.
buisshelles, s.pl. v. 2204.
buisshement, s. iii. 2089.
buiste, boiste, s. v. 3594, viii. 507, 2814, box.
Bulgarie, vii. 3291.
bulle, s. ii. 2825, 2978, PP. 208, (pope’s) bull.
burel, a. P. 52, simple.
burgeis, s. v. 7255, viii. 543, citizen.
burgh, s. P. 794, v. 3125, vii. 1690.
Burgoigne, vii. 770.
burned, a. i. 2540, v. 3110, 4339, polished.
buxom, a. P. 153, v. 2807, obedient.
buxomly, adv. iii. 546, v. 3030.
buxomnesse, s. i. 1355.
by, adv. i. 1802, iv. 1172, v. 4517, vii. 4955,
bi, iv. 397,
by and by (in order), iii. 557, v. 5503, 7280,
faste by, v. 298:
cp. be, prep.
byme, bime (= by me), ii. 2016, iii. 892 (against me), 2702 (for me), iv. 1182, 1423 (to me), 3369, v. 4484.
bysne, a. ii. 771, blind.
C
ça, vi. 60.
caban, s. viii. 1051, 1601.
cable, s. i. 1068, v. 443, viii. 624.
cacche, v.a. iv. 3283,
pret. cawhte, ii. 1349, 1441, iii. 1461,
cauhte, v. 3924,
pp. cawht, i. 1654, 2277,
caght, ii. 1746;
v.n. ii. 3192.
cadence, s. iv. 2414.
Cadme, Cadmus, i. 339, iv. 2401, v. 4273.
cage, s. iv. 1191.
caitif, s. i. 161, v. 2801.
cake, s. vii. 3705 ff.
Calcas, i. 1085.
calcedoine, s. vii. 1431.
calcinacion, s. iv. 2518.
calculacion (-oun), s. v. 3085, 6459, 7163*.
Caldee (country), P. 666, 717, v. 750, 781, 1592,
Chaldee, vii. 2031;
Caldee (language), iv. 2627.
Caldeus, pl. v. 787.
caldron, caldroun, s. v. 4117, 4141.
Caleph, v. 1687.
Calidoyne, iv. 2047.
Caligula, viii. 202.
caliphe, s. (1), ii. 2549, caliph.
caliphe, s. (2), v. 3915, (a kind of vessel).
Calipsa, Calipse, vi. 1427, viii. 2599.
Calistona, v. 6228 ff.
Calistre, vi. 2274, vii. 20.
calle, v.a.n. P. 126, i. 2459, 3146, ii. 937, iii. 1436.
calm, a. vii. 4113.
Calmana, viii. 65, 71.
Calvus, P. 775.
Cam, see Cham.
Cambises, P. 680, vii. 2893.
camelion, s. i. 2698.
camused, a. v. 2479, flat-nosed.
can, see conne.
Canace, iii. 147 ff., viii. 2587.
Canahim, vii. 566.
Cancer, vii. 1051 ff., 1249,
in Cancro, iv. 3242.
Candace, v. 1571, 1575, 2543.
Candalus, v. 1574.
candarie, vi. 1317.
canele, s. i. 1704, cinnamon.
Canis maior, vii. 1345.
Canis minor, vii. 1356.
canonized, pp. ii. 2821, viii. 144, installed, appointed by canon.
Capadoce, ii. 1332.
Capaneüs, i. 1980.
capitein, capitain, s. i. 1428, iii. 2421, vii. 5210,
fem. capiteine, v. 1972.
capoun, s. v. 2408.
Capra saliens, vii. 347.
Capricorn, Capricornus, iv. 3222, vii. 1170, 1199, 1252.
carbuncle, s. i. 466, v. 7121*,
carbunculum, vii. 1316.
cardinal, s. ii. 636, 2811, 2832.
care, s. i. 2516, iii. 1794,
pl. cares, iii. 299.
care, v.n. ii. 226, iv. 1774, PP. 18, feel trouble, be distressed.
carecte, s. i. 470, v. 3588, vi. 2006,
karecte, vii. 1571, charm, conjuration.
carie, v.a. ii. 2648, iv. 3292, v. 1197.
Carmente, iv. 2637.
Carmidotoire, vii. 2848.
carole, s. i. 2730, v. 3146,
karole, iv. 251,
carolles, pl. i. 2708.
carole, v.n. iv. 2779, vi. 868, 1845.
carolinge, s. iv. 1530, vi. 144.
carpe, v.n. vii. 3277*, converse;
v.a. viii. 1488, utter.
Cartage, iv. 81, v. 2048 ff., vii. 2221, 2235.[Pg 571]
carte, s. (1) P. 444, ii. 1974, iv. 987, 3233, vii. 816 ff.,
(cart, PP. 115),
the carte weie, iii. 2074; car, chariot.
carte, s. (2) vii. 1359, writing.
cas, s. P. 438, 746, i. 646, 2600,
per cas, iv. 39, 1239,
in cas that, iv. 1917.
Cassandra, Cassandre, Cassaundre, v. 7441, 7451, 7569.
Cassodre, vii. 3161*, PP. 330.
cast, s. ii. 2374.
caste, v.a. i. 40, 1322,
1 s.pres. caste, i. 1965,
cast, iv. 560,
3 s. cast, i. 663,
casteth, iii. 80,
pret. caste, i. 122, 1575, 2159,
cast, i. 152,
imperat. s. cast, i. 438,
pl. casteth, i. 3160,
pp. cast, ii. 1666, viii. 2909, throw, defeat, conjecture, plan, calculate.
castell, castel, s. i. 1423, ii. 719, iv. 741.
cat, s. iii. 1643, iv. 1108.
catel, s. v. 25,
catell, vii. 3252*, goods.
Cateline, vii. 1601.
Catoun, vii. 1599, 1612.
cause, s. P. 16, 190, 905, i. 3437,
whos cause, i. 1040 (for the sake of which),
be this c., i. 1053,
be c. that, ii. 343, 2771,
for c. of, ii. 3285,
be c. of, iii. 1433, v. 1158;
be cause (as conj.), iii. 2319.
cause, v.a. P. 348, i. 1987, ii. 3078, iv. 2845
(3 s.pres. causith, viii. 3013).
cautele, s. vii. 1639, trick.
cave, s. iv. 2991, v. 1573, 6813, viii. 2573.
cedre, s. i. 359.
ceinte, s. iv. 857, girdle.
Ceïx, iv. 2928,
Seyix, viii. 2650.
celee, a. ii. 1953, secret (i. e. apt to keep secrets).
celestial, a. viii. 780.
Celestin, ii. 2824.
celidoine, vii. 1370.
celier, s. vi. 332, viii. 2254, cellar.
Celion, ii. 3350.
celles, s.pl. v. 1463.
cendal, s. i. 1787.
Centaurus, iv. 1971 ff., 1988,
pl. Centauri, vi. 522.
centre, s. vii. 233.
Cephalus, iv. 3189, 3253 ff.
Ceramius, vii. 826.
cercle, s. iv. 3237, v. 4093.
Cereres, v. 1233, 1278, 1489,
Ceres, v. 1237, 4288.
cernes, vi. 1327.
certefie, v.a. ii. 963.
certein, a. i. 237, 1459, iv. 2919 (true), viii. 828,
certain, iv. 2506,
a certein man, i. 2130, iv. 435,
certein thinges, viii. 365;
as subst. in certein, i. 3215, ii. 1738, v. 7819,
in certain, ii. 498.
certein, certain, s. P. 140, v. 200, vii. 4754, certainty, fixed point.
certeinete, s. i. 48.
certeinly, adv. ii. 1111, iv. 180,
certeinliche, iv. 942.
certes, adv. i. 128, 1295, iv. 1726.
Cerymon, viii. 1166 ff., 1874.
Cesar, P. 714, v. 7107*, vii. 2449, 2470.
cesse, v.n. P. 1035, ii. 2903, v. 1852;
v.a. iv. 230, v. 5366, PP. 76: come to an end, retire; bring to an end.
chacable, a. v. 1269.
chace, s. i. 345, 2296, ii. 2634, iv. 1989, (at tennis) PP. 295.
chaced, see chase.
chaf, s. P. 844, ii. 85, 2127, iv. 1710.
chaffare, s. v. 4522, 6114, merchandise.
chaiere, s. P. 307, v. 2214, vii. 1208,
chaier, viii. 762.
Chain, viii. 60, 71.
Chaldee, see Caldee.
chalk, s. P. 416, ii. 2346.
Cham, Cam, iv. 2396, vii. 546, 577, viii. 83.
chamberere, s. iii. 826, iv. 1193.
chamberlein, s. ii. 726, 1232, iv. 2705.
chambre, s. i. 954, 1737, 2572, 2983.
Chamos, vii. 4506.
(champartie, iii. 1173, v.l.)
champion (-oun), s. vii. 3252, 3538.
chance, chaunce, s. P. 70, i. 1583, 1670, ii. 207, iii. 2720, iv. 722, 2792,
pl. chances, vii. 2362,
per (par) chance, ii. 1644, iii. 2604.
chance, v.n. vii. 2326.
chancellerie, s. v. 1921.
change, s. vii. 3274*.
change, v.a. P. 119, 208, i. 2696, iv. 1444,
chaunge, v. 7123;
v.n. P. 32, 628, i. 3030,
chaunge, PP. 315.
chapelet, s. v. 7066.
chapelle, chapele, s. iv. 1137, v. 7110.
chapitre, s. v. 1959, vi. 617.
chapman, s. v. 5115,
pl. chapmen, ii. 3059.
chapmanhod(e), s. ii. 3067, iv. 2447.
char, charr, s. i. 2029 ff., iv. 1000, 1205, vii. 851,
genit. chares, iv. 1208, carriage, car.
charge, s. P. 301, i. 2822, ii. 1691, 2114, iii. 173, iv. 1495, v. 826;[Pg 572]
no charge (no matter), ii. 1068,
yaf in charge, iv. 1052.
charge, v.a. i. 1223, ii. 1030, v. 7772, viii. 3103*, command, burden, trust;
iv. 2242, blame.
charge, s. viii. 3066, duty.
charite, s. P. 110, i. 2049, 3371,
Charite, ii. 3173, vii. 3167,
pl. charitees, i. 3360.
charitous, a. ii. 3329.
charke, v.n. iv. 2996, creak.
Charlemeine, P. 748, PP. 283,
Charles, P. 752.
charme, s. v. 3580, 4067.
charr, see char.
chartre, s. i. 3357.
chase, v.a. vii. 302,
pp. chaced, vii. 5255.
chaste, a. P. 228, i. 847, vii. 4244.
chastellein, s. ii. 725.
chastete, s. vii. 4240, 5387,
chastite, P. 472.
chastie, v.a. i. 2117, 2900, ii. 38, punish, correct.
chastiement, s. vii. 2498.
chastise, v.a. iv. 1242, vi. 2217.
chastisinge, s. iv. 1276.
chastite, see chastete.
Chatemuz, vii. 1462.
Chaucer, viii. 2941*.
chaunce, see chance.
cheke, s. i. 1680, iv. 185, 385,
chieke, v. 2471, viii. 2827, cheek.
chele, s. iii. 121, v. 7195*, vii. 638, chill.
Chelidre, v. 4129.
chenes, s.pl. v. 151, 681, chains.
chep, s.,
good chep, v. 1241.
cherche, s. P. 225, 246, &c., iii. 2275,
(chirche, PP. 107, 239),
genit. the cherche keie, P. 212, v. 1868,
pl. cherches, ii. 3477.
chere, see chiere.
cherie, see chirie.
cherl, s. iii. 1252, v. 148, viii. 1367,
cherles knape, viii. 1374.
chese, s. P. 416, ii. 2346, iii. 502, vi. 644.
chese, v.a.n. i. 1196, 1311, 1819,
pret.s. ches, i. 3281, ii. 2457,
pl. chose, P. 805,
imperat. ches, i. 1829,
pp. chose(n), i. 101, 2088, iv. 2091.
cheste, s. P. 215, iii. 417 ff., v. 541, contention (in words).
chevance, s. v. 4424, 6106, profit.
chide, chyde, v.n. iii. 492, 534, 553,
pp. chidd, iii. 474, 552.
chidinge, s. iii. 443, 565.
chief, a. ii. 2501, vi. 308,
def. pl. chief, v. 1112.
chief, s. P. 149, iii. 2265, chief thing;
ii. 1778, iv. 4, leader.
chieke, see cheke.
chiere, chere, s. P. 155, i. 141, 341, 619, 1384, 3172, ii. 991, iii. 1081, iv. 1408,
chier, viii. 2684, face, looks, welcome:
frendly chiere, i. 2423,
hevy c., i. 2871, 3148,
feigned c., i. 724,
cp. ii. 2061,
tok c. on honde, i. 1767,
make c., P. 155, ii. 2181, iv. 747, 1194,
withoute lyves chiere (i. e. lifeless), v. 1501.
chiered, a., hevy chiered, viii. 2533.
chievere, v.n. vi. 240, shiver.
chiewe, v.n. iii. 1629, vi. 930.
child, s. ii. 3206, 3258,
chyld, iv. 1842, 1982,
with childe, i. 916, ii. 919,
of childe, v. 1255,
pl. children, i. 2163, ii. 3219.
childhode, s. ii. 793, viii. 319.
childinge, s. i. 805, iv. 461, v. 829, childbirth.
childly, a. v. 3020.
chiminee, s. vii. 3951, fire-place.
chin, chyn, s. i. 1682, vi. 775, vii. 1892,
unto the chinne, ii. 3450, v. 372.
chinche, v. 4814, miser.
chippes, s.pl. i. 1918.
chirie, cherie, s., chirie feire, P. 454,
cherie feste, vi. 891.
Chiro, iv. 1971 ff.
chitre, v. v. 5700, 6011, twitter.
chivalerie, s. P. 723, i. 784, 2462, ii. 1826, iv. 1520,
(chevalerie, viii. 3007), cavalry, army, prowess.
chivalerous, a. i. 1414, ii. 2517, v. 653.
chois, s. i. 1827, ii. 3391, viii. 70.
chyme, v.n. iv. 347.
Chymerie, iv. 2987.
Chyo, v. 5413.
Cicorea, vii. 1400.
cilence, see silence.
Cillene, Cillenus, vii. 1599, 1607, Silanus.
Cillenus, v. 143, Silenus.
Cilly, vi. 1424.
Cimpheius, v. 4127.
Cinichus, vii. 2119.
Cipio, vii. 4187.
Circes, vi. 1427, 1461 ff., viii. 2599.
circumference, s. vii. 188.
circumstance, s. ii. 619, iii. 2745, v. 4293.[Pg 573]
Cirophanes, v. 1525, 1529.
Cirus, P. 679, vii. 1889, 4367.
cit, s. P. 836, city.
cite, citee, s. P. 106, 665, ii. 1344, iii. 459.
citezein, s. P. 842, i. 1007, ii. 680,
fem. citezeine, i. 1006.
Cithero, iv. 2648, vii. 1597.
citole, viii. 829, 1487, 2679.
Civile, ii. 83, the civil law.
Cizile, i. 1841, v. 967, 972, 1279, Sicily.
Cladyns, iv. 2407.
clamour, s. P. 514, v. 2394, viii. 2731.
claper, s. iv. 347.
clappe, v. i. 2391, v. 4640.
clare, v.a. viii. 1544, declare.
clarion, s. viii. 2482.
Claudius (Apius), vii. 5132 ff.
Claudius (Marchus), vii. 5167 ff.
clause, s. vii. 85.
clawe, v.n. iv. 2725.
(cle), s.,
pl. cles, i. 2994, iv. 1109, claws.
cleime, see cleyme.
Clemenee, iv. 985,
Clymene, v. 6756.
clene, a. ii. 3447:
adv. i. 587, ii. 1413, vi. 119,
cleene, iii. 2762.
clennesse, s. iv. 2558, vii. 4447.
clense, v.a. ii. 3463.
Cleopatras, viii. 2573.
clepe, v.a.n. P. 126, 436, i. 744, ii. 849, 3049, v. 1790,
pret. clepede, iv. 842, v. 951,
cleped, i. 1535.
cler, see clier.
clergesse, s. vi. 980, clergy:
cp. Mirour, 5546.
clergie, s. P. 281, 955, ii. 3351, iv. 236, learning, clergy.
clergoun, s. ii. 2850.
clerk, clerc, s. P. 52, i. 2274, iv. 234,
pl. clerkes, P. 194, i. 1856.
cleve, v.n. ii. 577, 2293;
v.a.,
pp. cleft, v. 4085.
cleym, s. ii. 2706.
cleyme(n), v.a. ii. 1025, iii. 1973,
cleime, PP. 59;
v.n. ii. 2380, claim.
client, s. iii. 160.
clier, cler, a. P. 925, ii. 1888, vi. 431,
def. clere, vii. 1329,
pl. cliere, ii. 195, vii. 2643;
as subst. vi. 360 f.:
superl. the cliereste, vii. 1311:
adv. cler, vii. 745.
cliere, v.n. viii. 1147, become clear.
climat, s. P. 137, vii. 799,
pl. climatz, vii. 684.
Climestre, iii. 1909 ff.
clippe (1), v.a. v. 5591,
pret. clipte, v. 4998, embrace.
clippe (2), v.a. v. 5690, cut.
clos, a. ii. 684
(def.), 1346, iv. 2755,
in clos, i. 1730:
adv. ii. 469, 3197, iii. 769, iv. 1331.
close, v.a. i. 1275, iv. 2655, 3371, v. 340.
closet, s. i. 897.
Clota, vii. 1320.
cloth, s. i. 2111, 2997, iv. 1534, 2431, 2436, v. 283, 2759,
pl. clothes, iii. 695, iv. 1536.
clothe(n), v.a. P. 466, i. 612, ii. 1377,
pret. cladde, viii. 652,
pp. clothed, ii. 302, 2271, &c.,
clad, iv. 27, 1306;
refl. iii. 966;
v.n. P. 317, iv. 2236: clothe; be clothed.
clothing(e), s. v. 214, vi. 989.
Cloto, iv. 2762.
cloude, s. iv. 3063, 3211, v. 1668, viii. 1039,
(pl. clowdes, viii. 3007*).
clowdy, cloudy, a. P. 925, iv. 2843.
clue, s. v. 5343.
clymbe, v.n. ii. 241, 1630, iv. 2726.
Clymene, see Clemenee.
coc, cock, see cok.
Cochitum, v. 1110.
Codrus, vii. 3183.
coevere (1), see covere.
coevere (2), v.n. viii. 1201, recover.
coffre, cofre, cophre, s. P. 314, ii. 2257, v. 33, 2079.
coign, s. v. 335, coin.
coigne, v.a. iv. 2448, coin.
coise, s. i. 1734.
cok (1), cock, s. iv. 3003, v. 4099, viii. 159, cock.
cok (2), coc, s. v. 4072, vi. 641, 716,
pl. cokes, vi. 623, cook.
cokard, s. v. 2803, fool.
cokerie, s. iv. 2433.
cokkel, cockel, v. 1881, 1884.
colblak, a. iii. 808.
Colchos, v. 3265 ff., 4244, 4354, 6609, 7199, viii. 2520.
cold, a. ii. 1966,
def. colde, iv. 422, vii. 1205,
pl. colde, iii. 299, iv. 405.
cold, s. P. 977, i. 2421, iv. 1090.
colde, v.n. vi. 241, grow cold.
cole, s. v. 6204, coal.
Collacea, vii. 4806, 4911.
collacioun, s. ii. 2328, iv. 1144, conference, contrivance.
Collatin, vii. 4775 ff., viii. 2633.
colour, s. i. 606, 692, 1113, 2701, ii. 1874, iii. 2394, iv. 2981, colour, kind, pretence.
coloure, v.a. vii. 1625.[Pg 574]
colre, s. vii. 431, 459, choler.
comande, v.a.n. i. 1275, 3240, iii. 2064, 2288,
comaunde, P. 30*, iv. 2794.
comandement, commandement, s. P. 84, i. 2790, ii. 3200.
comandinge, comandynge, P. 54*, i. 1335.
combes, s.pl. i. 1749.
come(n), v.n. P. II, 419, i. 902, &c.,
2 s.pres. comst, v. 3448,
3 s.pres. cometh, P. 853,
comth, i. 193,
pret. 1, 3 sing.
com, P. 1017, ii. 2073,
cam, P. 236, i. 1185,
2 s. come, viii. 2076,
pl. come(n), i. 835, 2048, iv. 1307,
imperat. com, i. 197, 1617,
pp. come(n), P. 703, 731, iv. 1283.
comelihiede, comlihied, s. v. 2598, 6734.
comely, a. ii. 441,
superl. def. comelieste, v. 3048.
comendacioun, s. vii. 1779.
comende, commende, v.a. P. 493, i. 3361, iii. 2264, iv. 1794, v. 6358, 7677,
(pp. comendid, viii. 3009).
cominge, s. ii. 800, iv. 819, 1529,
comynge, i. 1599, ii. 1336, iv. 2961.
comlihied, see comelihiede.
commandement, see comandement.
commende, see comende.
commoeved, pp. vii. 3361, moved.
commun, commune, see comun, &c.
compaignie, s. P. 288, i. 735, 1478, 1780, ii. 306, v. 4558,
compainie, v. 2081, 7759,
companie, vii. 1674, company, friendliness:
per compaignie, vii. 3752, together.
comparisoun (-on), s. P. 916, i. 2283, v. 6598.
compas, s. ii. 2341, contrivance, vii. 229, circle.
compasse, v.a.n. P. 58*, i. 5, 518, 1893, ii. 409, 806, vii. 3464, 4076, surround, contrive, achieve.
compassement, s. ii. 2323, iii. 889.
compassioun (-on), s. iii. 2722, vi. 170.
compense, v.a. iii. 2554, v. 4505.
compiled, pp. vi. 1382.
compleigne, v.a. i. 114, ii. 188, 1301, iv. 1586;
refl. v. 1903, viii. 2541;
v.n. i. 965, 1380, ii. 264: mourn for, mourn, murmur, complain.
compleignte, s. P. 516, i. 1345.
compleignynge, s. iii. 1425.
complexioun (-on), s. P. 975, i. 1498, ii. 3256, v. 2647, vii. 383 ff.
compone, v.a. iv. 2643, vii. 1590.
composicioun, s. P. 814, agreement.
comprehende, v.a.pp. v. 1735, vi. 2435, vii. 33, contain, include.
compte, v.a. i. 1567, vi. 1268.
comun, commun, a. P. 124, 377, 1082, i. 2695, v. 1117, 2235,
comune, vi. 2432, vii. 1991,
(comon, PP. 114).
comune, s. P. 499, i. 651, ii. 1844,
comun, P. 1066 f., v. 3759, common people, commonalty.
comune, commune, v.a. i. 70, 775, iv. 754, v. 984, vii. 2709;
v.n. i. 652, vi. 606, 2431, vii. 2200; join, communicate, share; associate, converse, share.
comunliche, adv. i. 803, ii. 3058,
comunly, i. 1352, ii. 367.
comynge, see cominge.
conceite, conceipte, s. P. 113, ii. 2311, vii. 1554, 1807.
conceive, v.a.n. i. 830, ii. 2902, iv. 2561, v. 458.
concele, v. v. 4635.
conclave, s. ii. 2812.
conclude, v.n. i. 250, iv. 2316;
v.a. ii. 777, viii. 2048, 2712.
conclusioun (-on), s. P. 575, i. 249, 3085, iii. 1816.
concordable, a. ii. 2799, iii. 2438, suitable.
concubine, s. v. 6757, vii. 4495, viii. 2693.
concupiscence, s. vii. 5223, viii. 293.
condicioun (-on), s. P. 805, 1029, i. 846, 1373, 2284, ii. 314, 1318, 3271, iv. 1784, v. 386, 4380, condition, state of things, disposition.
conduit, s.,
sauf conduit, v. 994.
confeccion, s. vi. 654.
conferme(n), v.a. P. 811, ii. 388, viii. 3164.
confesse, v. refl. and n. i. 1393, 1952, ii. 219, 738, 1734.
confessioun, confession, s. i. 202, 1374, v. 4379, viii. 2891.
confirmacion, s. ii. 2938.
conforme, v.a. ii. 608, iv. 216, 3110.
confort, s. ii. 261, 1562, iv. 800, 2568,
(comfort, PP. 4).
conforte, v.a. i. 916, 1001, ii. 1065, vii. 2143;
refl. v. 3653, viii. 1214.
confortinge, s. viii. 336.
confounde, v.a. P. 290, i. 3093, iv. 300.
confusioun, s. P. 852, i. 3086.
congeie, v.a. v. 3306, 7202, dismiss.
congelacion, s. iv. 2514.
congele, v.a. vii. 338.[Pg 575]
congruite, s. iv. 2646, vii. 1531.
conjoint, a. vii. 502, 1259, joined.
conjunccion, s. vi. 1961.
conjure, s. v. 3580.
conjure, v.n. vi. 1976.
conne, konne, kunne, v. ii. 1215, v. 928, 2909,
1, 3 s.pres. can, kan, ii. 3496, iv. 2334, vii. 4144,
2 s. canst, v. 4623,
pl. cunne, kunne, iv. 2390, v. 5544,
subj. conne, i. 264,
pret. cowthe, couthe, ii. 1214, iv. 374, vi. 1441,
2 s. couthest, couthist, vii. 2298, 2301;
cowthe him thonk, ii. 1007; know:
1, 3 s.pres. can, P. 60, i. 28,
pl. conne, i. 506, 1505, ii. 2116, iii. 2297,
cunnen, vii. 2172,
pret. cowthe, couthe, P. 1073, i. 30, 536,
cowde, coude, iv. 1255, 1540, know how to, be able to.
connynge, s. vii. 671.
conoiscance, s. vi. 1638.
conquere, v.n. iii. 1649.
conquerour, s. iii. 1286, vii. 893.
conqueste, s. P. 709, v. 3413,
(conqweste, PP. 42).
Conrade, vii. 2833.
consaile, see conseile.
consailer, see conseilour.
conscience, s. P. 297, i. 595, 1236, 2429, ii. 2390, 2844, iii. 11, 1504, iv. 792, v. 1847, feeling, conscience, sense of guilt.
conseil, consail, P. 146, 156, i. 609, 888, 1018, 1097, 1395, ii. 687, 1891, 3415, v. 3904 (secret), vii. 2076 (advocate);
in conseil (secretly), vi. 2326,
hold conseil (be silent), iii. 778,
prive conseil, ii. 1917,
conseil hous, vii. 2851,
conseile, viii. 2071,
(counseil, PP. 129).
conseile, consaile, consaille, v.a.n. i. 1123, 2950, ii. 1457, 1685, 2708, iii. 1163, iv. 3430, 3464 (ask advice);
refl. iii. 2727, vii. 3188.
conseilour, conseiller, consailer, s. iii. 1538, v. 2861, vii. 3148,
(counseillour, PP. 128).
consente, v.n. iv. 2797.
conserve, s. vi. 636, vii. 54, conserve, preserver.
consideracion, s. vii. 2749.
consistoire, s. ii. 2908.
conspire, v.n. i. 1206, ii. 2170, 2834, ii. 2945;
v.a. i. 1173, 1504, ii. 2329: conspire; agree upon, contrive.
conspirement, s. ii. 1704.
Constance, ii. 597 ff.,
Constantine, ii. 706.
constance, s. vii. 1757, steadfastness.
Constantin (1), Constantinus, P. 743, ii. 3188, 3339, 3449, vii. 3137, PP. 339, Constantine the Great.
Constantin (2), ii. 590, Tiberius Constantinus.
Constantin (3), P. 740, Constantine V.
Constantinople, vii. 1261.
constellacion (-oun), s. P. 532, i. 393, 1506, iv. 3247, v. 755, vi. 2253.
constreigne, v.a. iii. 347, iv. 486, 3529.
constreignte, s. viii. 3018.
consul, ii. 1775, vii. 1598, 2785.
contek, s. iii. 1093 ff., 2735,
(contekt, viii. 3015).
contemplacion (-oun), s. v. 7126, viii. 1838.
contempt, s. ii. 1722.
contenance, contienance, contenaunce, s. i. 698, ii. 1419, iii. 2404, iv. 380, 1180, 3155, v. 476, 694,
continance, ii. 3116; bearing, expression, self-control.
conterpeise, see contrepeise.
continence, s. P. 472.
continuance, s. iv. 187, 368, v. 1565.
continue, v.n. iv. 508.
continuinge, s. vii. 5003.
contourbed, pp. i. 222.
contraire, a. i. 2356, iv. 1803;
in contraire, i. 631, 3416, iii. 2400;
as subst. the contraire, P. 554, 979.
contraire, s. vii. 4025, trouble.
contrariende, pres. part. P. 555.
contre, s. P. 729, ii. 1453, iii. 1312,
pl. contres, iii. 1843,
(contrees, viii. 3014).
contrefet, a. i. 832, 1127, feigned, false.
contrefete, v.a. ii. 2476,
pp. contrefet, ii. 982.
contrepeise, conterpeise, v.a. vii. 1505, 3118.
contretaile, s. viii. 3102*.
contrevaille, contrevaile, v.a. P. 728, ii. 3313.
contricioun, s. i. 214.
controeve, v.n. iv. 936, 2454, contrive (to);
v.a., pret.pl. controeveden, vii. 187,
pp. controved, ii. 1708, devise.
controvinge, s. vi. 2372.
conveie, v.a. ii. 1125, iv. 203, viii. 2986*.
convenient, a. v. 7190*, vii. 1982, fitting.
converten, v.a. ii. 601, 639, iv. 1676,
(pp. convert, v. 1906*).
cope, s. iv. 1315, 2979, vii. 534,
coupe, vii. 1579, cloak, covering, vault.
coper, s. iv. 2473.
coppe, see cuppe.[Pg 576]
Cor Scorpionis, vii. 1410.
corage, s. P. 111, 448, i. 780, 833, ii. 1338, iv. 391, heart, spirit, disposition.
corde, s. iv. 2431, 3592, v. 4989.
corn, s. P. 844, iv. 2376,
pl. cornes, iv. 2442, v. 1244.
cornemuse, s. viii. 2483, bagpipe.
Cornide, iii. 785, 801.
Cornix, v. 6183.
coronal, s. iv. 1326.
corone, s. P. 33*, i. 2461, iv. 1323.
corone, coroune, v.a. P. 765, ii. 1595, iii. 2171.
corps, s. iv. 2499, 3657, cors, iii. 2075,
pl. corps, v. 2207, body.
corrant, a. vii. 352, running.
corrupcioun, s. P. 986.
corrupt, a. P. 922, ii. 1732, v. 765.
cors, see corps.
corse, see curse.
cortaisly, see courtaisly.
Corvus, iii. 796.
cost, s. (1), i. 3105, ii. 363, 2347, cost.
cost, s. (2), see coste.
costage, s. i. 3104.
coste, v.n. i. 3273.
coste, cooste, s. i. 499, viii. 619,
cost, vii. 885, coast, country.
costeiant, a. ii. 2551, bordering.
costne, v.n. i. 3313, cost.
cote, s. i. 2999, ii. 2270, iv. 1355, v. 7716, coat.
cotidian, a. v. 464.
couard, a. iv. 611;
subst. iv. 2301.
couardie, s. iv. 1934, vii. 1860.
couche, s. iv. 3015, v. 160, viii. 1193.
couche, v.n. i. 1261;
v.a. iv. 2710,
pp. couched, viii. 2255.
coude, see conne.
coupable, a. P. 582, ii. 275, iii. 1120, iv. 1503.
coupe, see cope.
couple, s. vii. 4437.
coupled, v.a.pp. v. 657, viii. 277.
courbe, s. v. 956, hump.
courbe, a. i. 1687, bent.
cours, s. i. 509, 2637, iii. 1031, iv. 1270.
courser, s. vi. 1188,
coursier, vii. 856.
court, s. P. 219, i. 1410.
courtaisly, cortaisly, adv. i. 2108, viii. 1695.
courteis, curteis, a. iv. 2300, v. 155, vi. 1992.
courteour, s. i. 1410, v. 7125*.
courtesie, curtesie, s. ii. 1214, v. 169, 5397.
courtins, s.pl. i. 1787, curtains.
cousin, s. P. 778, vii. 4776, viii. 106,
fem. cousine, ii. 1201, viii. 106.
cousinage, s. i. 1437, v. 4672, viii. 104.
Couste, ii. 1163, 1401 ff.,
Custe, ii. 1219.
couth, a. see cowth.
couthe, v. see conne.
coveite, v.a.n. ii. 238, v. 262, 6379.
coveitise, s. P. 263, iii. 2308, v. 223,
covoitise, v. 1976 ff., vii. 2013, covetousness.
coveitous, a. ii. 317,
def. covoitouse, vii. 2168,
pl. coveitouse, v. 4800,
the coveitous (subst.), ii. 335.
covenable, a. v. 2675, 6112, suitable.
covenant, s. i. 686, 948.
covere, coevere, v.a. i. 432, iv. 2092.
covert, a. ii. 2033, vii. 4942,
pl. coverte, iv. 1606;
in covert, iv. 3206, v. 1666:
adv. v. 6499.
coverture, s. i. 645, ii. 1939, iv. 1102.
covine, s. i. 29, 819, ii. 676, 683, 1895, 2115, iii. 2267,
(covyne, vii. 2335*, viii. 3016), company, agreement, device, conspiracy.
covined, pp. i. 1102, agreed.
covoitise, covoitous, see coveitise, &c.
cow, s. iv. 3323 ff.
cowde, see conne.
cowth, couth, a. ii. 432, iii. 2109, iv. 2543; v. 389,
pl. cowthe, i. 2862, known.
cowthe, v. see conne.
crabbe, s. vii. 1053.
craft, s. i. 1136, 1749, ii. 1849, iv. 925,
craftes, iv. 1048, 2667.
crafteliche, adv. i. 1755.
crafti, a. i. 1091, skilful.
crake, v.n. vii. 305, burst.
Crassus, v. 2069.
crave, v.a. i. 1362, 3343, ii. 329, iii. 1306, iv. 3290, v. 189;
v.n. iv. 54, vii. 2427: ask for, ask.
creacion, s. v. 933, vii. 203.
creance, s. ii. 754, iii. 2505, v. 783.
creatour, s. ii. 3436, v. 778.
creature, s. P. 911, i. 1529, v. 779.
crede, s. iii. 478, v. 2912, 7119.
credence, s. i. 533, 707, ii. 867, iv. 2921, v. 743, belief, faith.
credible, a. P. 574, vii. 128, 2528.
Creon, v. 4195.
crepe, v.n. v. 1893*, 5109,
pret. crepte, i. 908,
pp. crope, ii. 1141.
(Fa) crere, ii. 2122 ff.
cresce, v.n. viii. 29, increase.
creste, s. v. 6044.[Pg 577]
Cresus, iv. 1325 (genit.), v. 4730.
Crete, iii. 1939, 1968, v. 845, 981, 1169, 1222, 3994, 4018, 5232 ff.
Creusa, v. 2540, 4196, 4203, viii. 2505.
cri, cry, s. i. 375, 2188, iii. 545, 1055, iv. 3600.
crie(n), v.a.n. i. 955, 1369, iii. 222, iv. 3066, vii. 3649,
crye, viii. 1417,
3 s. pres. crith, i. 2338, iv. 3619,
pret. cride, i. 2326, 3167,
pp. cryd, iv. 1857,
crid, viii. 679, cry, lament, pray for, proclaim.
criinge, s. vii. 3323.
Crise, i. 1085,
Crisis, v. 6444.
Criseide (1), v. 7597, viii. 2531,
Criseïda, ii. 2456.
Criseide (2), v. 6444.
crisolitus, vii. 1422.
Crist, genit. Cristes, P. 165, 237 ff., 749 ff., 1032, i. 664, ii. 587 ff., 1597, 2503, 3354, 3466, iii. 1121, 2288, 2494 ff., 2547, iv. 1662 ff., v. 747, 1752 ff., 6390, 7001, 7106*, vi. 975 ff., vii. 3157*, viii. 141, 3030* f., PP. 50, 120, 156 ff.
cristall, s. iv. 1322*, v. 5066, vii. 1325.
cristendom, s. ii. 746, 3454, Christianity.
cristene, s.pl. P. 898, Christians:
a. PP. 380;
superl. the cristeneste, ii. 1598.
cristne, v.a. ii. 908, 3474.
Croceus, v. 4835, 4860.
crois, s. ii. 770, 3392, v. 1722.
crok, s. v. 2872, vii. 2268, 4892, crook, crookedness, device.
croke, v.a. v. 522, bend.
croked, a. iii. 440.
croket, s. v. 7065, curl.
cronique, croniqe, P. 101, i. 759, 1994, 3059,
pl. croniqes, iv. 2395.
crop, s. P. 118,
pl. croppes, vii. 4678, top.
Cropheon, iii. 2022.
crossen, v.a. i. 1165, set (sails).
crouche, s. ii. 390, cross.
crowe, v.a. iv. 3003, announce by crowing.
crowe, s. iv. 3001, v. 6206.
crualte, s. P. 49, iii. 235, 2149,
(cruelte, viii. 2997*).
cruel, a. iii. 15, 2000, iv. 1509.
crumme, s. vi. 1003.
cry, see cri.
cunne, see conne.
cunnynge, a. vi. 2437, skilled.
Cupide, i. 124, ii. 39, iii. 169, 1351, 1463, 1695, iv. 488, 496, 1242, 1265, 1275, 1471, 1684, 1692, 3558, v. 1405, 1419, 1485, 4802, 4827, 5819, 5843, vi. 345, viii. 2172 ff., 2453 ff.,
Cupido, ii. 2470, iii. 907, iv. 1733, viii. 2745.
cuppe, coppe, s. P. 343, i. 2474, ii. 699, iv. 399, v. 285.
cure, s. P. 211, i. 132, 1507, 3211, ii. 1083, 3054, iv. 1744, v. 1492, 1915, 2655, charge (of parish, &c.), care, help, remedy.
cured, a. P. 211, with spiritual charge.
curiosite, s. viii. 3114, artful skill.
curious, a. i. 1524, iv. 922, v. 6816, vii. 760, careful, inquisitive.
curse, v.n. i. 1369, iv. 2834;
v.a. v. 557,
corse, v. 7354.
cursednesse, s. v. 6989, curse.
cursinge, s. P. 274, ii. 2979.
curteis, see courteis.
curtesie, see courtesie.
cuss, s. v. 6558, kiss.
custummance, s. v. 1117.
custumme, custume, s. vi. 532, viii. 685, 1616.
custummer, s. ii. 1928.
Cusy, ii. 3092.
cutte, see kutte.
D
Daaly, vii. 361.
Dace, v. 884.
dai, day, s. P. 59, 163, i. 812, 1991,
al dai, ii. 1899,
to day, iv. 2216,
fro dai to dai, v. 1586,
be daie, iii. 148, v. 1265,
have good day, iv. 2814,
now a day, ii. 444,
cp. aday,
genit. daies, i. 1470, 1812,
pl. daies, P. 36, i. 761, 2273,
on daies nou, iv. 1731,
nou on d., v. 4913,
cp. adaies:
see also dawe.
Daires, genit. v. 1063.
Daires, see Darius.
dale, s. i. 356, iv. 1583.
Dalida, viii. 2703.
dame, s. i. 2551, ii. 749,
ma dame, i. 168, iv. 1374.
damoiselle, s. v. 1352.
dampnacion, s. v. 1360.
dampne, v.a. i. 1032, ii. 880, v. 4922, condemn.
dance, see daunce.
danger, see daunger.
dangerous, a. v. 6442, reluctant.[Pg 578]
Daniel, P. 590 ff., 1039, i. 2859 ff., vi. 1405.
dansinge, s. iv. 1530.
Dante, vii. 2329*.
dante, see daunte.
Danubie, ii. 1819.
danz, s. i. 3395, vii. 50, 1459, (used as a title).
Daphne, iii. 1686 ff.
dar, v.n. 1 s.pres. i. 1222, 2765,
2 s. darst, iv. 617,
3 pl. dar, iv. 345, 350,
pres. subj. dore, iv. 2825,
pret. dorste, i. 3157, iii. 196, iv. 3485,
dorst, ii. 1633,
pret. subj. durste, iii. 486, 1622,
2 s. durstest, iv. 40: dare.
Darius, P. 691,
Daires, vii. 1785.
dart, s. i. 144, iii. 1700, iv. 1994,
pl. dartes, iv. 1274.
daunce, v.n. iv. 2779, vi. 143,
dance, viii. 2487, 2682.
daunger, danger, s. i. 2443, ii. 1110, iii. 1537 ff., iv. 1149, 1641, 2813, 2903, 3589, v. 1389, 6620 ff., viii. 2264:
see note on i. 2443.
daunsinge, s. v. 3143.
daunte, v.a. i. 469, 2390, 2962, iii. 177, iv. 2072,
dante, v. 7220, tame, conquer.
David, ii. 3088, vi. 95, vii. 3860 ff., 4345, viii. 2690, PP. 282.
dawe, s. i. 2125,
of dawe, vii. 2883 (dead),
pl. dawes, i. 2794, iv. 3318:
cp. dai.
de (Langharet), ii. 2995.
debat, s. P. 106, 567, i. 2920, ii. 1907, strife, dispute.
debate, v.n. P. 928, i. 2453, iii. 2731;
v.a. P. 998, vii. 1640, 1744: contend; contend for, contend against.
debonaire, a. P. 553, i. 231, iii. 601, v. 176, vi. 863.
decas, s. P. 837, destruction.
deceipte, s. P. 541, i. 676, 753, iii. 184,
deceite, P. 114.
deceivable, a. ii. 1698, deceived;
ii. 2202, 3018, deceitful.
deceivant, a. i. 1214, iv. 2076;
as subst. ii. 1875.
deceive, v.a. i. 417, 751, viii. 2344:
v.n. i. 1207.
Decembre, vii. 1181, 4301.
decerte, s. i. 614, 1354, 3277, iii. 2293, iv. 1605,
pl. decertes, vii. 2049, service, merit.
decerve, see deserve.
decess, s. v. 3253, vii. 4516.
decide, v.a. P. 334, vii. 52, PP. 256.
declaracion, s. iv. 2228.
declare, v.n. i. 3436, iv. 312, v. 1380;
v.a. i. 73, v. 7399.
ded, a. i. 982, 3115, ii. 1855,
def. dede, ii. 840, 2647, iv. 2890,
the dede, (as subst.), i. 1445,
pl. dede, P. 9, i. 1037, iv. 1959, dead, killed.
Dedalion, iv. 2933.
Dedalus, iv. 1039, v. 5286.
dede, s. P. 228, i. 634, 1851,
in dede, i. 2933, iii. 329.
dedly, dedli, a. P. 904, i. 577, ii. 2571, iii. 274, iv. 2163, vi. 7,
dedlich (def.), vii. 5089, viii. 1355;
adv. iii. 1579, v. 6759.
deduit, s. viii. 2847, delight.
dee, s. v. 2437,
pl. dees, i. 54, iv. 1095, 1778, 2792, die,
pl. dice.
def, a. iv. 585.
deface, see desface.
defalte, s. P. 502, i. 1510, ii. 1856, iv. 1253,
in mi defalte, in thi d., iv. 3482, 3588,
defaulte, v. 537, vi. 271,
defaute, vii. 260, failure, want, fault.
defame, s. v. 5925, vii. 2055.
defence, defense, s. P. 218, 388, ii. 1806, iv. 1026, v. 1710, 5638, prohibition, protection.
defende, v.a. P. 421, i. 567, ii. 3411, iii. 2263, 2769, iv. 1672, 2338, protect, forbid.
defie (1), defye, v.a.n. i. 1043, iii. 503, vi. 723, 1203 ff., dissolve, digest.
defie (2), deffie, v.a. iv. 2848, vii. 2246, viii. 1066, defy.
defloure, v.a. v. 5812.
defoule, v.a. i. 977, 2835, iii. 2534, v. 2197, vi. 574;
v.n. iii. 586, pollute, destroy, outrage.
degre, degree, s. P. 50, 798, 930, i. 751, 1256, 2234, ii. 1224, v. 1688, condition, state, manner;
be degrees (degres), i. 258, iv. 2490, in gradation.
Deianire, Deianyre, ii. 2154 ff., iv. 2048 ff.,
Deyanire, viii. 2561.
Deïdamie, v. 3046 ff., Deÿdamie, viii. 2567.
deie, see dye.
deificacion, s. v. 934, 1173.
deifie, v.a. v. 776, 1148, 1494.
deigne, v.n. vi. 293, 1002;
impers. i. 2099, iv. 3564.
deinte, see deynte.
deintefull, a. vi. 813.
del, see diel.
delaie, deslaie, v.a. 1434, iv. 1755, 3399, vii. 5042, viii. 445;
v.n. ii. 1020.[Pg 579]
delaiement, s..iv. 226, v. 5088.
delate, v.a. vii. 3103, set forth.
delay, s. ii. 824, 3418.
Delbora (1), iv. 2437.
Delbora (2), viii. 66,
acc. Delboram, viii. 72.
dele, v.n. i. 1225, 2762, ii. 3202, iii. 69, iv. 333, have to do, deal, consult.
deliberacioun, s. viii. 2302.
delicacie, s. P. 325, iv. 2434, vi. 608 ff.
delicat, a. vi. 666 ff., vii. 909.
delice, s. vi. 795,
pl. delices, i. 2673, iv. 1671, v. 876, delight.
delicious, a. vi. 671, 957, delightful, delicate.
delit, s. i. 442, iv. 384, 3014, v. 187 ff., pleasure, charm.
delitable, a. v. 2676.
delite, v.n. and refl. i. 2688, iv. 3357, vi. 510,
(delyte, viii. 3096*).
deliverance, s. i. 1584, v. 1657.
delivere, a. vii. 1855, viii. 681, active;
adv. vii. 458, readily.
delivere, v.a. v. 3549,
pp. delivered (of childbirth), ii. 935, iii. 202, iv. 459.
Delos, v. 1256.
Delphos, v. 1071.
delve, v.a.n. P. 352, i. 3256, v. 2159, dig, dig for.
demande, s. i. 3071, ii. 2973, iv. 2793, viii. 1489.
deme, dieme, v.a. P. 537, i. 1892, 2014, iii. 2101, iv. 1770;
v.n. iii. 340, 750, 1216, v. 5152,
deeme, vii. 2311: judge of, think good, condemn; decide, be judge.
demeine, s. viii. 2226,
pl. demeynes, v. 1332, possession.
demene, v.a. ii. 1101, deal with.
Demephon, iii. 1764, 1807, iv. 731 ff 2555.
Demetrius, ii. 1619 ff.
demeynes, seedemeine.
demonstracioun (-on), s. v. 7164*, vi. 1346.
dendides, vii. 842, (name of a stone).
dep, a. v. 4947,
depe, (def.) iv. 1715,
(pl.) i. 3069:
subst. the depe, ii. 1035.
departe(n), v.a. P. 468, 643, i. 2935, iv. 1317, v. 602, 1689, divide, distribute;
v.n. P. 169, ii. 2645, iii. 2750, iv. 2833, be separated, depart.
departinge, s. ii. 320.
depe, adv. i. 1679;
comp. deppere, ii. 2070.
depos, s. ii. 1757, see note.
depose, v.a. ii. 1017, 2750, vii. 3225, depose, put down.
depthe, s. vii. 180.
deputacion, s. vii. 2750.
dere, v.a. i. 1997, 2766, vii. 3803,
derie, vi. 1520, injure.
dere, a. see diere.
derie, see dere.
derk, a. P. 941, iii. 984,
def. derke, ii. 1892, iv. 815, 2843,
voc. i. 956,
pl. derke, i. 634:
as subst. the derke, v. 1893, viii. 1691.
derke, v.n. viii. 604, grow dark;
v.a. viii. 967, 3008*, darken.
derne, a. i. 1932, secret.
derthe, s. v. 4284.
desallowe, v.a. i. 1237,
desalowe, PP. 242.
descencion, s. iv. 2515.
descende, v.n. v. 4579, viii. 2787.
descente, s. vii. 1789, 3432.
descerve, see deserve.
descharge, s. viii. 3104*.
descharge, v.a. P. 302, set free.
desclos, disclos, a. iii. 192, 770, made known:
adv. v. 6724, openly.
desclose, v.a. i. 3401, iii. 435, v. 4030,
disclose, viii. 1237.
descoevere, discoevere, discovere, v.a. i. 2630, ii. 2054, 2384, iii. 778, 794.
descoloured, a. viii. 1908.
desconfit, v.a.pp. iii. 2467, vii. 2579, 3827,
disconfit, vii. 4428, defeated.
descord, discord, s. P. 121, 1046, iii. 1162, iv. 1734.
descordable, a. v. 2929, out of accord.
descordant, a. vii. 1020, 2314.
descorde, discorde, v.n. ii. 1893, v. 2926, vii. 398, viii. 2024.
descres, s. vii. 2054.
descripcion, s. vii. 1760.
descrive, v.a. i. 1690, iii. 468, iv. 2406,
descryve, vi. 1110.
desdeign, s. i. 2058, 2359, ii. 1714, iv. 2332, v. 6453.
desdeigne, v.a. i. 1243, v. 4804, viii. 2342.
desert, a. vii. 585,
pl. deserte, vii. 2164.
desert, s. iv. 2056, v. 1665.
deserve, v.a.n. P. 71*, 708, i. 170, 738, 1119, 2132, ii. 1279, 3268, iv. 3577, PP. 278,
decerve, v. 4575,
descerve, vii. 3934, earn, deserve.
desese, s. P. 178, 1007, i. 2881, ii. 50,[Pg 580]
disese, iv. 1475,
(desease, viii. 3018), trouble.
desese, v.a. ii. 3010, vi. 64,
pp. desesed, i. 1352, ii. 248, iv. 209.
desespeir, s. iv. 3687, vii. 3727,
despeir, viii. 945.
desesperance, s. iv. 3499.
desface, deface, v.a. iv. 1322, v. 6308;
v.n. iv. 2844, viii. 2828.
desguise, v.a. P. 364, i. 2702 ff., iv. 3333.
deshonoured, pp. v. 5811, 7262.
desir, s. i. 599, 684, iv. 2567, v. 965.
desire, v.a. P. 221, i. 1205, 1481, ii. 1423;
v.n. P. 292, 682, i. 3289, ii. 2160, iv. 122.
desirous, a. i. 1413, ii. 2518.
deslaie, see delaie.
desobeie, v.a.n. i. 1315, iii. 1762.
desobeissance, s. i. 1307.
desobeissant, a. i. 1392, ii. 2507.
desolat, a. ii. 2651.
despeire, v.n. and refl. ii. 3347, iv. 3506, 3541.
despeired, a. ii. 1846, iii. 74, 1144, viii. 3012*, in despair, hopelessly bad.
despence, s. v. 4838, vii. 2066.
despende, v.a. P. 73, i. 1004, 1904, 3018, ii. 1126, iii. 877,
pret. despente, v. 1054.
despense, v.a. iii. 2553.
despise, v.a. i. 1356, 1978, iii. 564, iv. 2870, scorn, hate.
despit, s. i. 990, 2580, insult.
desplaie, v.a. ii. 1835,
displaie, v. 492.
desplese, v.a. i. 1387, iii. 528,
displese, vii. 4816.
desport, s. iv. 1188, 3100, v. 1425.
desporte, v.a. and refl. i. 1002, 2294.
despose, v.a. vii. 1809.
despreise, v.a. i. 2119.
despuile, v.a. i. 2206, 2906, viii. 2856, strip.
desputeisoun (-on), s. i. 1440, vii. 1821,
disputeisoun, vii. 1635.
desputen, v.n. ii. 310, iv. 812;
v.a. iv. 619.
destance, distance, s. iii. 611, 2695, vii. 2926, difference.
desteigne, v.a. i. 696, 966, ii. 2245, iv. 838, stain, disfigure.
destine, s. i. 1835, iv. 1915.
destourbance, s. ii. 642, 1951,
destorbance, iii. 2465, vii. 2836.
destourbe, destorbe, v.a. i. 221, 1688, iii. 373,
(pp. distourbid, PP. 153.)
destrauht, see distraght.
destresse, s. iii. 1605, iv. 462, v. 828,
distresse, distresce, ii. 3266, viii. 1609.
destruccioun, destruccion, s. i. 1105, iii. 973, iv. 1067.
destruie, v.a. i. 2836, iii. 1520,
pret. destruide, v. 2212,
pp. destruid, i. 3185, ii. 3355, iv. 225, 976, v. 1070.
determine, v.n. ii. 3204, viii. 2786;
v.a. vii. 63.
deth, s. P. 704, i. 1054,
genit. dethes (deadly), iii. 2657, v. 3533,
to dethe, i. 1448, ii. 1292,
fro dethe, ii. 3399,
fro deth, i. 1593, ii. 1525.
detraccioun, s. ii. 387, 534.
dette, s. iii. 2214, iv. 2588, v. 1552.
devel, iii. 663, vi. 1352,
genit. develes, ii. 3148,
cp. dieules.
devide, see divide.
devise, v.a. P. 464, i. 1544, 2178, ii. 1390, iii. 1208,
divise, P. 822, vii. 988, 1130, tell, contrive;
devise himself, i. 1817, decide.
devocioun (-on), s. i. 213, 801, ii. 3433.
devolte, a. i. 636, devoute, i. 669.
devoure, v.a. P. 314, i. 654, 1189, ii. 1842, iii. 327.
dew, s. vii. 4832,
pl. dewes, vii. 282.
deynte, deinte, a. P. 475, vi. 702.
deynte, s. v. 3838, vi. 741.
deyss, deis, s. vi. 2187, vii. 1886, high table, seat of state.
diademe, s. P. 765, ii. 2936.
Diana, Diane, i. 363, iv. 3238, v. 1250 ff., 6244 ff., viii. 1269, 1829.
dich, s. v. 7249, vi. 1281, 2324.
Dido, iv. 87, 141, viii. 2552.
diel, del, s. P. 137, v. 212, portion;
no del, no diel, P. 418, i. 2434, nothing:
as adv. nevere a diel, P. 878, not at all.
dieme, see deme.
diere, dere, a. i. 162, 3147, ii. 250, v. 1241 (of price):
adv. i. 381, iii. 880, iv. 2133,
deere, v. 6729.
diere, s. vi. 1915.
diete, s. i. 1707, vi. 252.
(a) dieu, ii. 2739.
dieules, s.genit. vi. 2345:
cp. devel.
difference, s. P. 451, v. 744.
differred, v.a.pp. ii. 3074, put aside.
dignite, dignete, s. P. 210, iii. 2170, vii. 4249,
pl. dignitees, ii. 2338.
dihte, v.a. i. 1131,
pret. dihte, v. 1200, 1364, 4252,
dighte, v. 5248,
pp. diht, ii. 2774, iv. 130,
dyht, ii. 822, v. 554, prepare, set in order.
dike, v.n. P. 352.[Pg 581]
diligence, s. iv. 1075, 1792, 2584.
diligent, a. iv. 1126.
diminucioun, vii. 160.
dimme, adv. v. 4967, faintly (of voice):
cp. dymme, a.
Dindimus (1), iv. 2641.
Dindimus (2), v. 1453.
Diogenes, Diogene, iii. 1203 ff., vii. 2229 ff.
Diomedes, Diomede, ii. 2458, v. 3099, 7601, viii. 2534, 2569.
Dionise, viii. 546, 1345 ff.
Dionys, vii. 3341.
disciple, s. vii. 1453, viii. 1167, 2942*.
discipline, s. i. 942, iv. 294, v. 5326.
disclos, disclose, see desclos, &c.
disconfit, see desconfit.
discord, see descord.
discovere, discoevere, see descoevere.
discrecioun (-on), s. v. 264, vii. 2116.
discresce, v.n. v. 1851.
discrete, a. (pl.), vii. 2443.
discretly, adv. vii. 3342*.
disme, s. P. 269, tithe.
disour, s. vii. 2424.
dispers, a. v. 1497, 1729, vii. 2658.
displaie, see desplaie.
displese, see desplese.
disposed, a. i. 1253, 3785.
disposicioun (-on), s. P. 943, i. 1497, ii. 3255, iv. 2740.
disputeisoun, see desputeisoun.
dissencioun (-on), s. P. 781, iii. 595, 740, v. 3307.
dissevere, v.a. ii. 2229, iii. 1573;
v.n. iv. 2838.
dissh, s. ii. 699, v. 3853,
disch, v. 285.
dissimilacion, s. i. 957.
distance, see destance.
distempre, v.a. iii. 58, 1858.
distillacion, s. iv. 2513.
distille, v.a. P. 62*.
distraght, destrauht, pp. ii. 1745, iii. 7, vii. 6.
distreigne, v.a. ii. 1302, torment.
distresse, see destresse.
ditee, s. viii. 2945*.
diverse, v.n. P. 677, vii. 972, change;
pp. diversed, P. 29, vii. 1270, changed, made different.
diverse, a. P. 365, i. 426, 2463, ii. 2547, iii. 2101, vii. 3436,
divers, iii. 2290, vi. 69, different, perverse, evil.
diverseliche, adv. v. 218, 5940.
diversite, diversete, s. P. 988, v. 490, 1373.
divide, v.a. P. 127, 706,
devide, vii. 147;
v.n. P. 880, v. 1661.
divin, s. v. 142, divinity,
vii. 651, theologian.
divin, a.,
divine, (def. or fem.), ii. 3243,
dyvyn, v. 1058.
divine, v.a. i. 2861.
divinite, s. vii. 122.
divise, see devise.
divised, pp. ii. 3264, vii. 1241,
(devised, PP. 235), divided.
divisioun (-on), s. P. 576, 967, ii. 1743, vii. 4539.
do, don, v.a. (n.) P. 63, 271,
(doo, doon, P. 28*, 49*),
to (forto) done, P. 141, 483, i. 691, 995,
3 s. pres. doth, P. 286, 761, i. 1913,
pret. dede, P. 226, i. 561, 2579, ii. 2283, iii. 924, 1049,
(dide, PP. 348),
imperat. s. do, i. 2936,
pl. doth, i. 127,
pp. do, don, P. 857, i. 2599, ii. 770, 1234:
doth restore, P. 761,
doth ous forto wite, P. 286,
let do make, ii. 1286,
hath do slain, ii. 1799,
cp. iv. 816,
doth to seme, i. 614,
do that ther be, iv. 2520,
on dede, ii. 2283,
dede upon, iv. 2979, v. 3556,
do aweie, iv. 71,
do wey, vii. 5408: do, cause, make, put.
do, doo, s. iv. 1300, 1978, doe.
doaire, s. vii. 1257, province.
doelful, a. viii. 483.
doinge, s. v. 4631, 5743.
dole, s. iv. 252, vi. 356, vii. 1213, distribution.
dom, s. i. 1050, 1647, ii. 1732, vi. 2171, viii. 2113,
(doom, vii. 3152*), judgement, dominion:
day of dome, vii. 3560.
domb, see doumb.
domesdai (-day), s. v. 1905, vi. 806.
Domilde, ii. 947.
dominus, i. 215.
Donat, iv. 2641.
dore, s. P. 1083, ii. 2130, iv. 903.
Dorrence, vii. 3185.
Dorus, v. 1337.
dotard, s. vi. 2307.
double, a. P. 130, i. 635 (deceitful), ii. 341, 3343;
as subst. ii. 333.
double, v.a. ii. 349.
doubte, see doute.
doubtif, a. vi. 2171.
doubtous, a. vii. 3524.
doumb, domb, a. iv. 345, 585, vi. 447.
doun, s. iv. 3021, down.
doun, down, adv. P. 570, i. 1155,
up so doun, ii. 1744, iii. 80,
a doun. iv. 2710.[Pg 582]
dounes, s.pl. iv. 1583, hills.
dounward, adv. vii. 5073.
doute, v.a. i. 404, v. 3602,
doubte, i. 2892;
v.n. iv. 62: fear.
doute, s. P. 562, i. 2222, 3124, v. 181,
doubte, iv. 1022,
stant no d., ii. 2124, iv. 2118,
cp. iii. 2536.
dowhter, douhter, s. i. 1841, iv. 1535,
doghter, ii. 638,
doughter, ii. 663,
genit. dowhter, i. 3208, ii. 1469,
dowhtres, i. 3231, iii. 218,
pl. dowhtres, douhtres, i. 391, v. 7310,
doghtres, v. 3049.
dowhterles, a. viii. 903.
dragon, dragoun, s. v. 3718, 3989, vi. 1984.
drake, s. vii. 362, dragon.
drawe, v.a.n. P. 69, i. 1745, ii. 519, iii. 946, viii. 1948,
3 s.pres. drawth, P. 1002,
draweth, i. 2336, 3 s.pret.
drowh, drouh, P. 792, i. 819, ii. 1580, 2695, iii. 2084, iv. 35, v. 4046,
drogh, iv. 3192,
pl. drowe(n), drowhe, i. 1041, 1136, iii. 1040, iv. 2026, vii. 3346*,
imperat. draugh, PP. 384,
pp. drawe, v. 5457, vii. 4625.
drawhte, drauhte, s. iii. 2057, v. 4167, vi. 253, draught.
drecche, v.a. i. 621, 2097, iv. 2896,
dreche, iv. 1185;
v.n. iv. 102, vii. 5009, viii. 755: deceive, torment, while away, debase; delay.
drecchinge, s. iv. 3476, tormenting.
drecchinge, a. v. 3975.
drede, v.a. refl. and n. P. 500, i. 2245, iii. 180, 1321,
pret. dradde, i. 1668, v. 2814, 5003,
drad, viii. 1368,
dredde, v. 3355,
imperat. dred, i. 2246.
drede, s. P. 1082, i. 1987,
pl. dredes, vii. 411,
withoute drede, ii. 2388, v. 68 (doubtless).
dredful(l), a. i. 435, 2133, iv. 3382, vii. 3131, terrible;
ii. 2622, timorous.
dreie, a. i. 2042, ii. 2224, v. 1664,
drie, drye, v. 4143, vii. 379, dry:
cp. drye.
dreie, v.a. iii. 695.
dreint, dreynte, see drenche.
drem, s. P. 599, ii. 3376, iv. 2729,
pl. dremes, iv. 3575.
dreme, v.n. iii. 51, iv. 2722, 3285.
drenche, v.a.n. vii. 4277,
pret. dreynte, iv. 1030, 3061,
pp. dreint, dreynt, ii. 1122, 1826, v. 1342, 1870, 4352,
def. dreinte, iv. 3093: drown.
drery, a. vii. 3312*.
Driades, v. 1333.
drink, drinke, s. ii. 3099, iii. 2611, iv. 1719,
pl. drinkes, v. 1472.
drinke(n), v.a.n. P. 318, i. 1390, 2309, vii. 3513,
drynke, iii. 1402, 3 s.pres.
drinkth, i. 1708,
drynkth, vi. 72,
drinketh, v. 253,
pret. drank, iii. 895,
dronk, ii. 1008,
pl. drunke, i. 2645, vi. 472,
dronken, vi. 591,
imperat. drink, i. 2551,
pp. drunke(n), vi. 374, 388.
drinkeles, a. vi. 57, without drink.
drive, see dryve.
dronkelew, a. vi. 106,
drunken.
drope, s. v. 4147, 4752.
droppe, v. vi. 1043, vii. 5263.
druerie, s. iv. 2713, vi. 1290, courtship.
drunke(n), a. P. 343, ii. 1010, v. 145, vi. 73 ff.
drunkenesse, s. vi. 585.
drunkenhiede, s. vi. 566.
drunkeschipe, dronkeschipe, s. v. 150, vi. 15.
drye, dryhe, v.a. iv. 2836, 3474, vi. 1085, endure.
drye, dreie, s. P. 977, vii. 271, 445.
dryve, v.a.n. ii. 712, 718, 1906, iv. 1853,
drive, ii. 729,
dryve forth, spend (time), P. 374, ii. 1309, iv. 3390,
pret. drof, iii. 1048, iv. 1020,
pp. drive, P. 578, iv. 1027.
duale, s. vi. 388, narcotic draught.
duc, duck, see duk.
due, a. P. 457, ii. 2928, iv. 510, 3247, vii. 4195 (dewe, PP. 196), owing, fitting, bound (?).
dueliche, duely, adv. vii. 4570, viii. 2374.
duelle(n), dwelle, P. 2, 142, 818, i. 147, ii. 1265, iii. 1338, vii. 2980,
pret. duelte, i. 2488, v. 2084, remain, dwell.
duellinge, s. iv. 1979, vii. 458.
duete, s. P. 258, iv. 3204,
(duite, viii. 3101).
duistre, s. i. 1027, guide.
duk, duc, duck, s. i. 782 ff., 2644, iii. 1987, iv. 1525, vii. 1917, 3747,
genit. dukes, i. 2639,
duckes, iv. 477, duke, leader.
dull, a. v. 1948, vi. 150,
pl. dulle, iv. 947, PP. 207.
dulle, v.a. P. 14.
durable, a. PP. 301.
duresce, s. P. 411.
dwelle, see duelle.
dwyne, v.n. iv. 3440, pine away.
dyamant, vii. 1333.
dyche, v.a. i. 3256:
cp. dike.[Pg 583]
dyches, s.pl. v. 19.
dye, die, deie, v.n. P. 978, 990, i. 127, 1333, 1972, ii. 701, 1858, iv. 3065,
pret. deide, ii. 692, 1161, v. 1079,
deiede, iv. 1593,
dyde, P. 705,
dide, PP. 190,
pres. part. deyinge, i. 1710.
dyht, see dihte.
dymme, a.pl. viii. 2826:
cp. dimme.
Dyon, v. 1049.
E
ease, see ese.
ebbe, v.n. P. 933.
ebbes, s.pl. vii. 723.
Eccho, v. 4618, 4644.
ecclesiaste, vii. 4491.
ech, pron. P. 375, i. 817, iv. 500,
eche, P. 516, i. 2061,
ech other, i. 2489.
Echates, v. 3981, 4035.
echedaies, s.genit. v. 512.
echon, pron. P. 1049, i. 1854, iv. 2094.
eclipse, v.n. P. 919, v. 769, viii. 2600.
Ector, see Hector.
eddre, s. iv. 2109,
addre, v. 3967,
thaddre, v. 3528.
Edwyn, ii. 1319.
eem, see em.
eere, see ere.
effect, s. iii. 2395, vi. 931,
theffect, iv. 1759.
effeminat, a. vii. 4304.
eft, efte, adv. i. 160, 963, ii. 2570, iv. 2111, 2858, v. 5789 f., vii. 2334, after, again.
eftsone, adv. ii. 1305, iv. 806,
eftsones, iv. 2830.
Eges, vii. 351.
Egeüs, iii. 2561, v. 5255, 5259.
eggetol, s. v. 3708.
Egiona, iii. 2173, 2185.
Egipcienes, &c. see thegipcienes.
Egipte, ii. 2549, 2628, v. 789, 814 ff., 1592, 1653, vi. 1797 ff., vii. 924.
Egistus, Egiste, iii. 1906 ff., 2029 ff.
egle, s. vi. 2200, vii. 630, eagle.
eighte, num. vii. 1110 ff.,
eyhte, viii. 81.
eile, eyle, eille, v.n. i. 971, ii. 1348, iii. 2296, v. 7444, vi. 172,
impers. vi. 386, ail.
eir (1), air, s. P. 921, vi. 943, vii. 255 ff.,
their, thair, iii. 1215, v. 3993: air.
eir (2), s. see heir.
either, pron.a. ii. 630, v. 1662,
eyther, vii. 1193.
ek, eke, adv. P. 154, 913, i. 865, ii. 2931,
ek also, ii. 1233,
(eek, P. 57*, vii. 3180*).
ekinge, s. iv. 622.
Elda, ii. 726 ff.
elde, s. v. 4183, viii. 2828, (person) viii. 2667.
eldemoder, s. iv. 2251.
eldeste, a.superl. def. v. 3047, vii. 557.
eleborum, vii. 1336.
eleccioun (-on), P. 365, 435, vi. 1167, vii. 46.
Eleine, see Heleine.
element, s. vii. 372,
pl. elementz, v. 773, vii. 218 ff.,
thelementz, v. 759.
elitropius, s. vii. 841, (name of a stone).
elixir, elixer, s. iv. 2522, 2577.
ellefthe, a. vii. 1393, eleventh.
elles, adv. P. 290, 477, i. 1574, 2344, ii. 3382,
(ellis, viii. 3078),
elles where, ii. 1979, iii. 2079.
elleswhere, adv. P. 9, iv. 164,
see elles.
ellevene, num. vii. 1186.
eloquence, s. iii. 440, iv. 2651,
pl. eloquences, vii. 1631.
eloquent, a. vii. 37, viii. 393.
em, s. i. 1517, v. 3289,
eem, vi. 474,
genit. emes, i. 1489, uncle.
embatailled, pp. ii. 1837, 2619.
embrace, enbrace, v.a. P. 90, i. 1286, ii. 2082, iv. 58, 409, v. 24,
embraseth, iii. 1483, take in hand, embrace, obtain;
i. 431, put on the arm.
embrouded, enbrouded, pp. iv. 1319, vi. 1554,
embroudred, i. 2511.
embuisshed, pp. ii. 3007.
embuisschement, see thembuisschementz.
Emilius, ii. 1776.
empeire, v.a. P. 453, iii. 1143, iv. 3505;
v.n. P. 833, ii. 367, 3068: damage, make worse; become worse.
empeirement, s. v. 2161, vii. 1158, harm.
emperesse, s. viii. 2612.
emperour, s. P. 726, iii. 2393,
themperour, i. 762,
genit. emperoures, ii. 1219.
empire, s. P. 681, 721, i. 2793, ii. 2709,
thempire, P. 767.
emprise, s. P. 1018, i. 2066, ii. 2358, iii. 1017, iv. 1898, v. 905, vii. 1850, 4251, 4778, viii. 174, boldness, valour, worth, object.
emty, a. i. 1681.
enbrouded, see embrouded.
enbrouderie, s. iv. 1175.[Pg 584]
encence, encense, s. v. 1568, vii. 4509.
enchantement, s. i. 477, iv. 765.
enchanting, s. iv. 648.
enchaunte, v.a. i. 470, ii. 481, 2492, iii. 178.
encheson, s. i. 2440, 2747, v. 7354, occasion.
enclin, a. ii. 3177, vi. 585.
encline, v.a. iv. 3565;
v.n. v. 1637, viii. 2083:
enclined, pp. ii. 271.
enclose, v.a. iii. 1333, v. 21, 4029,
(pp. enclosid, viii. 2942.)
encluyed, pp. iv. 1345,
enclowed, viii. 113, hurt with a nail, nailed.
encombre, v.a. ii. 1770, vii. 5219, endanger, harass.
encourtine, v.a. i. 877, curtain.
encresce, encresse, v.a.n. P. 1036, i. 672, ii. 3428, iv. 782, v. 6476, vi. 2272.
encress, s. i. 3342, ii. 1666, v. 3, 7712,
encres, viii. 74, increase, advancement.
ende, P. 162, 556, i. 1067, 1616, ii. 2753, iii. 1380, v. 5670, viii. 697, 1219,
thende, P. 883.
ende, v.a.n. P. 74, i. 2110, iv. 2900, v. 194, vi. 1781.
endeles, i. 2717, iii. 2466;
adv. P. 662, ii. 3429.
enderday, s. i. 98,
ender day, v. 7400.
endite, v.a.n. P. 22, ii. 412, 2046, iii. 270, PP. 381, compose, accuse, examine.
enditour, s. iv. 2411.
endlong, prep. ii. 689, iii. 1031;
adv. iii. 1209: along.
endure, v.a.n. i. 131, ii. 259, iv. 2105.
endyng, s. vi. 2376.
Eneas, Enee, i. 1095, 1124, iv. 78 ff., 2183, v. 1400, viii. 2553.
enemie, s.fem., v. 6753,
anemie, viii. 1355.
enemy, s. iii. 12, 1532, iv. 2186,
pl. enemys, enemis, iv. 1953, v. 7397.
enfile, v.a. vii. 4333, thread.
enformacion (-oun), s. i. 2270, ii. 2783, v. 593.
enforme, v.a.n. i. 276, 1340, 1974, 3229, ii. 2121, 2499, iv. 923, relate, instruct, enform.
Engelond, P. 24, ii. 1581, vii. 753, PP. 359.
engendre, v.a.n. P. 987, ii. 2841, 3176.
engin, engyn, s. ii. 1956, iv. 2438, 2637, v. 2156, disposition, ingenuity, device.
engine, v.a. i. 878, 1101, ii. 2116, deceive, entrap.
enginous, a. vii. 433, quick-witted.
englissh, s. P. 23, iii. 21,
Engleissh, vi. 985,
(englesch, viii. 3108).
englue, v.a. iii. 1553, iv. 3363, fasten, ensnare.
enhabite, v.a. iii. 1335, viii. 93.
enheritance, s. v. 5553.
enke, s. iii. 298, 1070, viii. 2213, ink.
enlumined, pp. vii. 64.
enoignte, v.a. v. 3601,
pp. enoynt, v. 3599,
enoignt, vii. 4247,
enoignted, vi. 1974.
enquere, v.a. ii. 488, vii. 2771.
ensamplaire, see essamplaire.
ensample, s. P. 196, i. 1405, iv. 2339,
(essample, PP. 93).
ensample(n), v.a. P. 47;
refl. iv. 3684, v. 5159, vii. 4441;
essampled, P. 7.
ensamplerie, s. P. 496, v. 4935,
essamplerie, vi. 1385.
ensele, v.a. viii. 2699, seal.
enspire, v.a. iv. 2200, vii. 4003, viii. 2976*.
entaile, s. i. 1088, 1252, iv. 374, v. 1499, 2442,
entaille, iv. 2990, form, fashion, sculpture.
entame, v.a. i. 709, wound;
v. 3482, begin.
entencion, s. iv. 2270, 2516.
entendable, a. vii. 2146.
entendance, s. viii. 2488, service.
entendant, a. ii. 1623, v. 1352, viii. 2695.
entende, v.n. P. 253, 376, ii. 3412, iii. 2347, iv. 1735, pay attention, undertake.
entendement, s. i. 3122, ii. 584, iv. 1767, vii. 609, 1701, understanding, meaning, instruction.
entente, s. P. 668, 1023, i. 60, 825, 1121, 1770, ii. 1002, 2669, meaning, purpose, thought.
enterdit, s. ii. 2979, 3013.
entermette, v.refl. ii. 66, interfere.
enterrement, s. v. 5727, viii. 1523.
entre, s. i. 1144, ii. 2131, 3033.
entrecomune, v.n. ii. 3249.
entren, v.n. vii. 3215*.
entrike, v.a. iii. 2340, iv. 3042, 3298, vii. 1577, ensnare, entangle.
entronize, v.a. vii. 2416,
intronize, ii. 2822,
inthronized, viii. 6.
envenime, envenyme, v.a. ii. 2237, iii. 2457, vi. 3, envenom, poison.
envie, s. P. 347, i. 3083, 3441, ii. 10 ff.,
(envye, P. 58*).
envie, v.a. ii. 2828, 3104.
envious, a. ii. 223, 318,
thenvious, ii. 1728;
as subst. ii. 345.[Pg 585]
environe, v.a. vi. 2239, vii. 240, encompass.
enviroun, adv. ii. 1474, vi. 2236.
eny, pron. P. 387, i. 2419, &c.,
any, i. 14,
pl. eny, v. 2039,
enye, v. 921:
eny thing, as adv. ii. 2057.
Eolen, Eole, ii. 2263 ff., v. 6808 ff., 6884 ff., viii. 2510.
Eolus, iii. 143, iv. 735, v. 968,
pl. Eoli, v. 978.
Ephesim, viii. 1156, 1793 ff.
Ephiloquorus, iv. 2409.
epitaphe, s. iv. 3359, 3670,
epitaffe, viii. 1531.
Epius, i. 1091.
equacion, s. vi. 1959.
equite, s. ii. 3327, vii. 2816.
er, adv. ii. 1995, vii. 2285,
err, vii. 687,
ar, ii. 2141, iv. 1422:
prep. er this, P. 513, i. 610,
er dai, v. 2182,
or this, i. 1944:
er, conj. P. 503, i. 911, 1122,
(er that), iv. 2068.
ere, s. P. 236, i. 2181, &c.,
eere, P. 10, ear.
ere, eere, v.a.n. i. 3257, v. 819, plough.
Ericon, v. 1401.
Eridian, v. 4005.
eringe, s. v. 1228, ploughing.
Eriphile, iii. 2565.
Eritheüs, vii. 853.
erl, s. i. 3376.
erldom, s. i. 3354.
erli, erly, a. vi. 1605:
adv. i. 2176, iv. 1829,
erliche, v. 2313.
Ermenie, see Armenye.
ernest, s., ernest and game, &c., P. 462, ii. 528, iii. 549, iv. 50, viii. 856.
erre, v.n. P. 355, ii. 2963, v. 1893.
errour, s. P. 511, v. 812, 1620.
erst, adv. iii. 376, iv. 805, v. 1778.
erthe, P. 40, 614, i. 2796, 3251,
therthe, i. 3265, earth, clay.
erthly, erthli, a. P. 201, i. 2889, iv. 1322,
ertheli, erthely, iii. 2520, PP. 63.
eschange, s. P. 207, i. 2330, viii. 2259.
eschape, see ascape.
eschete, s. i. 3354.
eschu, a. v. 4748, shy.
eschuie, v.a.n. i. 945, 1212, 2255, 2667, ii. 3250, iii. 1674,
teschuie, vii. 3247,
eschue, P. 458, v. 7002, avoid, escape.
Esculapius, v. 1059 ff.
Esdras, iv. 2407.
ese, s. i. 3052, ii. 49, 3122, iv. 1814, v. 3629,
aise, viii. 1352, 1718,
pl. eses, vii. 4359,
eases, iv. 1089.
ese, v.a.n. ii. 247, 3183, vi. 893, vii. 2616.
esely, adv. v. 5027, gently.
Esiona, v. 7215,
acc. Esionam, Eseonen, v. 7275, viii. 2518.
esmaie, v.refl. v. 3348;
pp. esmaied, iii. 58, iv. 1372.
Eson, v. 3255, 3931 ff.
espeir, s. ii. 1551, 3147, iii. 2707, hope.
espiaile, s. vi. 1643.
espleit, s. v. 3924, success.
esposaile, s. iv. 1498,
espousaile, v. 5815.
essamplaire, ensamplaire, s. iv. 887, vii. 3143, 4026.
essampled, essamplerie, see ensample, &c.
essoine, s. i. 1778, excuse.
estat, see astat.
estre, s. ii. 3370, abode.
estrete, s. i. 1344, extraction, origin.
estward, adv. ii. 1088, vii. 569.
esy, esi, a. vii. 1540, viii. 2159.
ete, v.a.n. P. 318, i. 2844, v. 2405,
3 s.pres. ett, vi. 1139,
pret. eet, i. 2977, ii. 3029, v. 851,
pl. eete, vi. 1173,
pp. ete(n), iii. 1401, v. 5902.
eternal, a. viii. 2973.
eterne, a. P. 586.
eth, a. i. 544, easy.
Ethiope, iv. 649.
Ethna, P. 329, ii. 20, 163, 2837, v. 1289.
etique, s. vii. 1651, ethics.
Eurice, ii. 2267.
Europe, v. 7340, vii. 533, 579.
eutonye, vi. 1318.
evangile, s. PP. 217.
Eve, iv. 2225, viii. 28 ff.
eve(n), s. i. 858, ii. 2888, vi. 368,
even liht, iv. 2804.
evel, a. iii. 1272,
def. evele, v. 2331:
adv. evele, iv. 3266, v. 146,
evel mouthed, v. 519.
evel, s. v. 4926,
evele, vii. 1549.
evene, a. as subst., in evene, i. 2, iv. 3294, v. 1702,
hir evene, v. 3386:
adv. i. 2819, ii. 175, 3401, v. 75,
evene liche, iii. 2397, vii. 3033.
evenynge, see thevenynge.
evere, adv. P. 38, 335, i. 1641,
for evere, ii. 1581,
evere in on, i. 1795.
everich, pron. vi. 171, each one.
everich, a. see every.
evermore, everemore, adv. i. 1330, ii. 442,
evermor, everemor, P. 980, i. 34, v. 671, PP. 138,
everemo, i. 1381, iv. 3590,[Pg 586]
evermo, i. 1852, (evere mo, viii. 3004*),
for everemo, i. 1161, vii. 3843.
every, pron.a. P. 28, i. 1202, (everi, PP. 199),
everich (everych) on, ii. 2020, vii. 1305, 4419;
cp. everychon.
everychon, everichon, pron. i. 246, 2103, iv. 714, 1311;
cp. every.
everydel, everydiel, s. P. 641, iii. 836, 929;
adv. P. 828, ii. 1253.
evidence, s. P. 332, i. 1074, 1160, iv. 3054,
in evidence, i. 1857, ii. 2678,
pl. evidences, iv. 2665.
evident, a. vii. 3859.
exalacion, s. vii. 330.
examinacioun, s. ii. 313.
examine, v.a. iv. 293.
excede, v.a. i. 541, iv. 3525, v. 247.
excellence, s. PP. 375.
excepte, v.a. vii. 2745, accept.
excercise, s. vi. 532.
excess, s. v. 4457.
excessif, a. vii. 2722.
excitacioun, s. vi. 567.
excite, v.a. vi. 509, vii. 4276.
exclude, v.a. viii. 2711.
excusable, a. i. 1029.
excusacioun, s. iv. 330, v. 7094*.
excuse(n), v.a. P. 488, 522, i. 733, 2102, 2723, vi. 121,
(pp. excusid, viii. 3111), excuse, give as excuse.
excusement, s. i. 1022.
excusinge, s. i. 1929.
execucioun (-on), s. vii. 3081, viii. 1952.
execut, pp. ii. 1742.
exil, s. v. 1221, vii. 3012.
exile, v.a. P. 280, i. 1055, ii. 1845, iii. 2179, v. 862.
expectant, a. ii. 1712.
expence, s. vii. 2027.
experience, s. i. 217, 1073, v. 321,
thexperience, P. 331.
expert, a. vii. 27.
exponde, v.a. P. 663, 823, 873,
expounde, i. 2867.
exposicioun (-on), s. i. 2932, iv. 2739.
expresse, a. v. 3220, viii. 2185.
expressly, adv. iii. 2331.
extorcion (-oun), s. v. 5511, vii. 2190, viii. 3015.
extremite, s. iv. 2489, v. 7641,
thextremetes, iv. 2565.
ey, s. i. 2545, vi. 2225, vii. 617, egg.
eyhte, see eighte.
eyhtetiene, num. i. 1803, vii. 1025.
eyther, see either.
F
Fa crere, ii. 2122 ff.
fable, s. P. 864, ii. 2800, v. 1270.
Fabricius, vii. 2784.
face, s. P. 130, i. 966, i. 3327.
facounde, faconde, s. v. 3126, vii. 36, eloquence.
fade, a. ii. 403, iii. 310, viii. 637, PP. 102:
adv. i. 2043.
fade, v.n. ii. 2738, iv. 3454, vii. 3046;
faded, pp. iv. 3208, vii. 744.
fader, s. i. 216, &c.,
fadre, ii. 2519, iii. 1946,
genit. fader, i. 2557, 3334, ii. 1483, 1625, &c.,
fadres, iii. 263, vi. 401.
faderhode, s. iv. 527.
faie, faye, a. i. 2317, ii. 1019, iv. 1321, v. 3769;
as subst. v. 4105.
faierie, s. ii. 964, 1593, v. 5003, 7073.
faile, v.n. P. 650, i. 896, 1968, iv. 934, 1722,
faille, iii. 2184, vi. 751,
failen of, i. 1059.
faile, s. P. 1032, i. 3113, ii. 2534.
fain, a. i. 2759, iii. 1666:
adv. fain wolde, i. 1433, ii. 1415,
fayn, ii. 491, v. 3789.
fair, a. i. 362, 779, 1100, 1899,
(feir, viii. 3010*),
pl. faire, i. 353;
comp. fairer, fairere, ii. 1247, v. 4810;
superl. def. i. 767, 1804.
faire, adv. P. 600, i. 1131, 3415.
faiterie, s. i. 179, false pretence.
faitour, s. i. 174, 689.
fal, fall, s. P. 336, ii. 227, v. 4950.
fallas, s. i. 645, iv. 2509, vii. 2186.
falle(n), v.n. P. 372, 528, 972, i. 39, 683, v. 3654,
3 s. pres. falth, P. 545, i. 24,
falleth, v. 5485,
pret. fel, fell, P. 619, 692, i. 761, ii. 2160,
pl. felle(n), P. 782, i. 2083,
subj. felle, i. 3151, vii. 4253.
fals, a. i. 3063,
def. fals, P. 739, i. 680, ii. 404,
false, i. 1107, ii. 824,
voc. false, iii. 1252,
pl. false, i. 871,
as subst. v. 7392;
superl. falseste, v. 6047:
adv., false tunged, ii. 1750.
false(n), v.a.n. ii. 2150, v. 5182, violate, break faith.
falshed, falshede, falshiede, s. i. 1009, ii. 857, 1692, v. 927, 2956,
falshod(e), ii. 1755, v. 6012, vii. 1533.
falsly, adv. ii. 1280, 2765,
falsliche, v. 5920.
falssemblant, s. ii. 1876 ff.
falswitnesse, s. v. 2863 ff.
falte, s. vi. 286, want.
fame, s. P. 100, i. 1415, 2412, iii. 1019.
familier, a. vii. 3147.[Pg 587]
famine, famyne, s. iii. 2268, v. 4284, viii. 551.
famous, a. iii. 2373, v. 7125*.
fantasie, s. ii. 1408, iii. 126, v. 441,
pl. fantasies, ii. 2898.
fantosme, s. v. 5011, vii. 2589.
fare, v.n. P. 646, i. 110, 1976, ii. 2040,
2 s.pres. farst, iv. 626,
3 s.pres. farth, iii. 1079, vii. 1288,
fareth, iv. 244,
pret. ferde, i. 97, 910, ii. 111,
ferd, viii. 2445,
pp. ferd, i. 445,
fare(n), iii. 2692, v. 3797, viii. 1555 f.,
imperat. fare (wel), iii. 305, iv. 1378,
(cp. farewel),
pres.p. (wel) farende, v. 3381.
fare, s. i. 2291, iv. 440, v. 1379, 1611, 1987, doing, condition, business.
farewel, v. 4218, vi. 1654,
farwel, v. 7758.
fast, a. iv. 903.
faste, adv. P. 370, i. 473, 984, 2302,
fast, vii. 3325:
als faste, i. 414, 474, quickly;
fast aslepe, ii. 2870;
faste, ii. 1089, close,
faste by, i. 897, ii. 756, iv. 666,
cp. fasteby.
faste, s. vi. 850.
faste, v.n. i. 660, ii. 244, iv. 814.
fasteby, adv. vi. 1993, vii. 4758;
cp. faste, adv.
fastnen, v.n. v. 3598.
fat, a. P. 474, v. 1947,
pl. fatte, iv. 1310.
fate, s. v. 1159.
faucon, s. iii. 2430, vii. 1842.
Faunus, v. 6833 ff.
favorable, a. ii. 1697, iv. 443, vii. 3976, partial, favourable.
favour, s. vii. 2789, 2844.
favoure, v.n. iv. 2254;
v.a. v. 5328.
faye, see faie.
Februer, vii. 1234.
fecche, v.a. vii. 5010:
cp. fette.
fede, v.a. and refl. P. 466, i. 2823,
fiede, v. 2009,
feede, vi. 632,
pret. fedde, i. 2830, 5301,
pp. fedd, fed, ii. 244, v. 1719, vi. 792.
Fedra, v. 5395, 5481,
Phedra, viii. 2514.
fee, s. viii. 543, property;
pl. fees, i. 53, iv. 1096, wages.
feer, see ferr.
feere, feerful, see fere, ferful.
feigne, v.a.n. P. 416, i. 166, 595, 1103, 2197, ii. 654, v. 928 (refl.),
(feyne, P. 60*, feine, PP. 312),
pp. feigned, i. 797, 1084, v. 3051 (disguised), vii. 3539.
feihte(n), v.n. P. 1020, i. 1427, ii. 2177, iv. 1674,
feighte, iv. 2081, 2111,
fihte, fyhte, P. 215, iii. 1648, iv. 1508, v. 1475,
(fighte, PP. 251),
pret. foghte, iii. 2651, iv. 2095,
fawht, v. 5360.
feint, a. i. 1217, v. 4351,
def. feinte, v. 6945,
pl. feinte, iv. 118, false, sluggish, faint.
feintise, s. i. 175, feigning.
feir, see fair.
feire, s. P. 454, i. 301, ii. 3067, v. 565, fair.
feith, s. P. 237, i. 707, 2216;
in good feith, i. 727, iv. 665;
make his feith (give his assurance), v. 2897, 2924.
felaschipe, s. P. 1015, i. 1163, ii. 326, iv. 1958,
felaschip, ii. 1217.
felawe, s. P. 795, i. 1244, 3042, ii. 2031, 2366,
felaw, ii. 333, vii. 2292,
felawh, ii. 1965,
fela, ii. 318, v. 2420, fellow, sharer, equal.
feld, s. P. 838, i. 2469, ii. 1838, 2593, v. 5964,
field, iv. 1832, 2091, 2377, v. 3745, field, battle.
fele, a.pl. iii. 828, v. 208;
as subst. iv. 1069, v. 6970, many.
felicite, s. i. 206, vii. 933.
fell, a. i. 68, iii. 2655,
pl. felle, v. 2744, cruel.
fell, s. v. 3816, 4243, skin.
felle (1), see fille.
felle (2), v.a. i. 2903, ii. 2298, fell.
felonie, s. ii. 215, 884, iii. 336, iv. 3580.
feloun, a. vii. 1123, viii. 1393.
felt, felte, see fiele.
felthe, s. ii. 422, filth.
femele, a. as subst. iv. 1301, vii. 4215.
femeline, a. v. 5550.
Feminee, iv. 2140, v. 2548.
fend, s. ii. 705, v. 1582, 4885, vii. 5335, fiend.
fenele, s. vii. 1327, fennel.
fennes, s.pl. viii. 160, fens.
fer, a. see ferr.
fer, s. see fyr.
ferde, ferd, see fare.
fere, s. (1), P. 57*, i. 462, 1439, 2205, ii. 46, iii. 1524, v. 5676,
feere, ii. 696, iii. 1396, fear.
fere, s. (2), see fiere.
fere, feere, v.a. ii. 578, fear;
refl. feere, iii. 454, be afraid.
ferforth, adv. P. 29*, i. 2690, ii. 1596, iv. 2139.
ferforthli, adv. ii. 77, viii. 1229.
ferful (1), feerful, a. iv. 360, v. 1860, vii. 306, 3561.
ferke, v.a. viii. 603, convey.
ferme, ferm, a. vii. 3175, viii. 1109.
ferr, fer, feer, a. P. 261, i. 2378, iii. 68, v. 1507, vii. 311,[Pg 588]
def. ferre, iii. 1901, far, distant:
adv. P. 565, i. 1042, 1313, iii. 878, iv. 831, 931,
feer, i. 570;
compar. ferre, iii. 71:
a ferr, i. 2335, iii. 1039,
afer, v. 318.
ferst, a.,
def. ferste, i. 580, ii. 1307, 1676,
(firste, v. 7017*, PP. 198),
ferst, iii. 27,
ate ferste, P. 522, iv. 895:
adv. P. 198, i. 998,
ferste, iv. 2601, vii. 1530,
(first, viii. 3082).
ferthe, a.,
def. ii. 1875, iv. 2482, PP. 1, fourth.
ferthest, adv. iv. 13.
fest, s. ii. 468, fist.
feste, s. i. 2499, iv. 1483, v. 1018.
fet, s. viii. 2415, deed, feat.
fethere, s. iv. 107,
pl. fetheres, fethers, iv. 1049, v. 6204, 6209.
fethrebed, s. iv. 3020.
fette(n), v.a. i. 2548, iv. 646, viii. 1413,
pret. fette, v. 2779,
pp. fet, fett, i. 2549, ii. 2686, iv. 1851, fetch, get.
feture, s. iv. 380, v. 2598, viii. 2977,
pl. fetures, vii. 4877, feature, make.
fewe, a.pl. P. 22, i. 1424,
as subst. iv. 2614;
a fewe, ii. 1507, iv. 1286.
fieble, a. P. 887, iii. 269, iv. 1392,
(feble, viii. 3127),
sup. fieblest, vii. 4296;
as subst. P. 615.
fieble, v.a. vi. 373.
fieblesce, s. ii. 2272.
fiede, see fede.
fiedinge, s. vi. 746, 941.
field, see feld.
fieldwode, s. v. 4039, see note.
fiele, v.a.n. ii. 3015, iii. 2730, v. 1043,
pret. felte, i. 2497,
felt, viii. 2165,
pp. felt, i. 210, feel, think.
fielinge, s. P. 951, vi. 344.
fierce, see fiers.
fiere, ii. 349, companion;
in fiere, in fere, i. 993, ii. 710, viii. 1753, together.
fiers, a. vii. 899,
pl. fierce, v. 3517.
fievere, s. v. 464 ff., 5995.
fieverous, a. v. 589.
fifte, a.def. ii. 2320, vii. 611.
fiftene, num. vii. 1304.
fight, s. PP. 68.
figure, s. P. 620, i. 1530, iv. 2563,
pl. figures, P. 918.
figure, v.a. vii. 1016, 1032, shape, figure.
fihte, fyhte, see feihte.
fille, felle, s. iii. 2609, v. 255, 1680, fill.
fille, felle, v.a. ii. 3448, v. 2205, vi. 590, viii. 34, fill.
fin, a. P. 606, vi. 1891,
pl. fine, v. 1548,
fyne, iv. 2554.
a fin, iv. 60, at last:
cp. afyn.
final, a. P. 982, i. 1647, iii. 1816,
(fynal, viii. 3088*),
in final, viii. 3106.
finali, finaly, adv. i. 1956, ii. 1050, iii. 75, v. 595.
finde, fynde, v.a. P. 94, 572, iii. 2056,
3 s.pres. fint, fynt, ii. 394, 2129, iv. 3403,
pret. fond, i. 113, 2337, v. 2690, vii. 3300,
pl. founde(n), P. 812, i. 1109,
pp. founde(n), i. 2299, v. 6814, vi. 633; find, invent, provide.
finger, s. iv. 653, v. 7118*,
finger ende, vi. 1064,
pl. fingres, iv. 1177.
fire, v. see fyre.
firmament, s. P. 959, iv. 1032.
firy, see fyri.
fissh, fissch, s. vi. 1264,
pl. fisshes, i. 491, ii. 3456, iii. 957.
fisshere, s. iii. 956, viii. 646.
five, see fyve.
fixacion (-oun), s. iv. 2520, 2574.
flacke, v.n. viii. 1196, flutter.
flamme, s. P. 345, v. 3508.
flaterende, pres.p. as a. vii. 2652.
flaterie, s. vii. 2168 ff., 2515 ff.
flatour, s. vii. 2179 ff., 2330*.
fle, flen (1), v.a.n. P. 203, i. 1223, 1701, iii. 600, iv. 1990,
flee, ii. 3161, vii. 3528,
pret. fledde, i. 2636, ii. 152,
pp. fledd, vii. 3570; escape, flee, avoid.
fle (2), v.n. iv. 1050, vi. 2225,
3 s.pres. fleth, i. 1727, ii. 151, iii. 2430,
fleith, i. 2673,
pret. flyh, flih, iii. 2108, v. 6206,
subj. flyhe, vii. 358,
pp. flowe(n), v. 3750, 6129; fly.
fle (3), v.a. v. 4692, flay.
flees, s. v. 46, 3272.
Flegeton, v. 1109.
fleisschly, fleisshly (-li), fleysshly, a. vii. 4211, 4237, 4348, 4395,
flesshly, v. 6402*.
fleissh, s. i. 2235, v. 1940,
fleisch, i. 1531,
flessh, v. 6395* ff.
flete, s. ii. 1134, iii. 1036, fleet.
flete, v.n. iii. 1628, vi. 335,
flietende, iv. 3083, float.
fleume, s. vii. 414, 451.
flihte, see flyhte.
flint, s. v. 4692.
flitte, v.a.n. v. 7076, vii. 2902,
flitt, iv. 214, move, turn aside.
flock, s. P. 391, 421.
flod, s. i. 364, ii. 719, v. 1605, viii. 79,
pl. flodes, P. 1013.[Pg 589]
flor, s. iv. 2785, v. 4148, viii. 1855, floor, ground.
Florent, i. 1411 ff.
florin, s. v. 335, 2410, vii. 2095.
flour, s. i. 3261, v. 278,
pl. floures, P. 937, viii. 2943*.
floure, v.n. v. 4144, 7626.
flowe, v.n. P. 39*, 933, ii. 1881.
flyh, see fle (2).
flyhte, flihte, s. iv. 1055, 2342,
flyht, iv. 1058, v. 5975.
fo, s. ii. 3354, iii. 284, iv. 3408;
as a. v. 7252.
fode, s. i. 2975, ii. 87, v. 325,
foode, vi. 846.
fol, a. i. 442, 2269,
fool, vi. 569, vii. 4271, foolish.
fol, s. i. 2214, ii. 3248, iv. 3347, vii. 3953 ff.,
foll, i. 1967,
fool, vi. 19,
pl. foles, iv. 625, v. 322,
fooles, vi. 535; fool.
folde, s. P. 390, 439, ii. 3055, fold: v. 2784, embrace.
fole, s. viii. 2407, foal.
folhaste, s. iii. 1430 ff., 2735,
folhast, iii. 1096.
folhastif, a. iii. 1635, 1795, vii. 899.
folhastifnesse, s. vii. 435.
folie, s. i. 520, 2357, iii. 141.
folk, s. P. 467, i. 2033, ii. 1770, iii. 185.
folwe, v.a.n. P. 443, i. 261,
3 s.pres. folweth, ii. 3503,
folwith, iv. 671, PP. 23.
fom, s. iv. 1666, v. 4008, vi. 1469.
foman, s. v. 6418*,
pl. fomen, i. 2877, iv. 1523,
foomen, vii. 3334*.
fonde, v.a.n. P. 62, 80*, i. 3198, ii. 929, iv. 3109, v. 1421, attempt, try.
fonge, v.a. ii. 2558, iii. 1111, iv. 2294, take.
for, prep. P. 16, i. 844, 1683, ii. 1856, iv. 1090 f.,
for al that &c., i. 192, 1055, iii. 334, vii. 2677:
cp. fore.
for, conj. P. 12, 40, i. 598, 1012, 1466,
for that, P. 22, i. 1784, since, because, in order that.
forbere, v.a. i. 244, 1602, 3119, 3163, ii. 538, 1768, iii. 138, 411, 754, 2321, iv. 1496, 2344, v. 6309;
v.n. i. 1279, iii. 754, v. 563: leave out, spare, prevent, forbear, avoid.
forbiede, v.a.n. v. 394,
god forbiede &c., ii. 3064, iii. 1121,
god forbede, iii. 477,
pret. forbad, v. 1636,
pp. forbede, i. 3408, iii. 2253.
forblowe(n), pp. ii. 25, viii. 1402, blown about.
forboght, pp. ii. 1573, bought off.
forcacche, v.a. P. 409, drive out.
forcast, pp. v. 1193, cast away.
forde, s. ii. 2166, vii. 1236, ford.
fordo, v.a. P. 326, i. 2415, ii. 3172,
pp. fordo, v. 7576, destroy.
fordrive, v.a.pp. viii. 1636, driven about.
fore, adv., come fore, travaile fore, &c., iv. 1723, v. 3345, viii. 992.
forebode, s. v. 6053, prohibition.
forein, a. iii. 5, v. 973, vii. 2975, far removed.
forest, s. i. 351, 1528, 2292, iii. 324.
forestempne, s. iii. 994, man at the prow (?).
foretokne, s. i. 2812.
foreward, s. iii. 507, v. 7004, engagement.
forfare, pp. i. 109, worn out (with travel).
forfet, s. iii. 1798, vii. 2721, 4583, transgression, forfeit.
forfete, v.a. v. 5477.
forfeture, forsfaiture, iii. 1500, v. 780, 1764, 4214, offence, punishment.
forge, s. i. 1088, v. 963, workmanship, forge.
forge, v.a. i. 1087, iv. 237, vi. 1958.
forgnawe, pp. iii. 1406, gnawed to pieces.
forgon, v.a. v. 7284, go without.
forjugge, v.a. vii. 3171*, condemn.
forlete, v.a.pp. vii. 584, viii. 1434, abandoned, left alone.
forlie, v.a.,
3 s.pres. forlith, PP. 108,
pret. forlai, forlay, iii. 2031, v. 802, viii. 215,
forlih, viii. 300,
pp. forlein, forlain, iii. 198, 2276, v. 3189; lie with, violate.
forlore, v.a.pp. i. 2947, ii. 1242, v. 2825,
forlorn, v. 1882, lost.
forme, s. P. 53*, 871, i. 576, 1339, 2670, ii. 2473, iv. 2211, v. 1872,
pl. formes, iv. 2501.
forme, v.a. ii. 1012, 3245.
formel, a. vii. 157.
Foroneüs, vii. 3060.
fors, s.,
no fors, v. 7720, no matter.
forsake, v.a. P. 166, i. 1012, iii. 680, iv. 1592,
3 s.pres. forsakth, ii. 2450,
forsok, iii. 2031,
pl. forsoke(n), P. 809, i. 611,
imperat. forsak, vii. 3675,
pp. forsake, i. 210, 3128, ii. 157; deny, give up, avoid, desert.
forschape, v.a. iv. 2108,
pret. forschop, i. 370, 1846,
pl. forschope, vi. 1446,
pp. forschape, i. 416, iii. 377, transform.
forsfaiture, see forfeture.
forsfet, pp. ii. 1039.
forslowthen, v.a. iv. 2319, v. 1887, neglect by sloth.[Pg 590]
forsmite, pp. viii. 1000, smitten (to death).
forstormed, pp. ii. 25, viii. 1402, driven by storms.
forsueie, v.n. i. 1028, vii. 3928, 5369, go wrong.
forswere, v.a. v. 2870,
pp. forswore, ii. 875, v. 3229.
forth, adv. (of place) i. 826, iv. 799, vii. 4362, (of time) P. 818, i. 949, v. 1724,
forth therupon, i. 2503,
forth after, iii. 2103,
forth over, i. 3431,
forth riht, ii. 1270;
forth (= continually), P. 931,
axeth forth (go on asking) i. 2668,
dryve forth, P. 374, spend (time):
as prep. forth with, P. 680, i. 680, 2936, ii. 927, 1479, iii. 310,
forthwith, ii. 699, 1034, together with, with;
forth withal, ii. 791.
forth, s. i. 3314, course.
forthbringe, v.a. vii. 2213,
pp. forthbroght, v. 1257.
forthdrawe, v.a. v. 330,
pp. forthdrawe, ii. 1395, 2697, iv. 471, 1569, 1616,
(forth drawe, viii. 3060), draw out, bring forth, bring up, breed.
forthdrawere, s. iv. 3381, breeder.
forthdrawinge, s. v. 1021, breeding.
forthenke, v.a. iii. 2614;
impers. iii. 139, 630,
pret. forthoghte, ii. 796, 2398: repent; it repents (me), it is displeasing.
forther(e), adv. see furthere.
forthermor(e), see furthermor(e).
forthest, a. i. 1199, ii. 3150:
cp. furthere.
forthferde, v.n.pret. i. 98, went forth.
forthgon, v.n. iv. 1850.
forthi, adv. P. 5, i. 1638,
(forthy, viii. 3152,
for thi, viii. 2950*), therefore:
noght forthi, i. 1901, ii. 398, nevertheless.
forthren, v.a. ii. 2045, vi. 353.
forthrere, s. vii. 804.
forthriht, adv. v. 7118*, straight.
forthringe, s. ii. 661, 2048, vii. 2957, furtherance.
forthrowe, pp. viii. 1154, thrown about.
forthwith, adv. ii. 359, 1204, v. 643, at once, moreover:
prep. see forth.
forto, P. 31, 208, i. 804, &c.,
for to, P. 209, 339.
fortrede, v.a.,
pp. fortrode, v. 6054, tread to death.
fortunat, a. vii. 917.
fortune, s. P. 70, i. 1670, 2625, ii. 1477.
fortune, v.a. P. 584, i. 1859, iii. 2365, iv. 188, viii. 2549, bring about, deal with, regulate, make fortunate.
forwacched, pp. v. 5421, wearied with want of sleep.
forwakid, pp. iv. 404, wearied with want of sleep.
forwept, pp. iv. 404, worn out with weeping.
forwhy and, conj. ii. 2025, v. 2563, provided that.
forworthe, v.n. vi. 280, perish.
foryete (ȝ), v.a. i. 224, iv. 576,
3 s.pres. foryet, iv. 544,
pret. foryat, iv. 654,
imperat. foryet, viii. 2434,
pp. foryete(n), P. 311, i. 2015, v. 5239;
v.n. i. 3426.
foryetel (ȝ), a. vii. 415, forgetful.
foryetelnesse (ȝ), s. iv. 541, 629.
foryifte (ȝ), s. viii. 2896, forgiveness.
foryive (ȝ), v.a.n. i. 2384, iii. 898, iv. 3427, vii. 4071,
pp. foryive, i. 2253, 3334,
foryove, i. 2136, forgive, give.
foryivenesse (ȝ), s. iv. 3491, vi. 2213.
fostre, v.a. P. 326, ii. 437.
fostringe, s. vii. 2174.
fot, s. P. 357, i. 2053, 2539,
under fote, P. 117, iii. 1167,
under foote, vii. 3335*,
on fote, v. 1664,
at his fot, iii. 233,
pl. feet, P. 612, i. 2300;
fot hot, iv. 3350.
foul, foughl, s. see fowhl.
foul, a. i. 1532,
def. foule, i. 1734, iii. 2252,
pl. iii. 431, vi. 573;
compar. foulere, i. 1759;
sup. the fouleste, i. 1718.
foule, adv. v. 5708.
founde, v.a. P. 289, 824, ii. 3476, viii. 1994,
3 pl.pret. foundeden, v. 904.
foundement, s. vii. 703, 4197.
foundour, s. v. 1002.
foure, num. ii. 1037, iv. 2464, vii. 2371,
fowre, iv. 2477.
fourtenyht, s. iv. 1418.
fourtiene, num. i. 3134, viii. 1539.
fourty, num. iv. 1563.
fowhl, foughl, foul, s. iii. 2605, v. 7072, vii. 140,
pl. fowhles, foules, iii. 2601, iv. 1298, v. 1025.
fox, s. ii. 3033,
pl. foxes, iv. 1836.
France, P. 747, ii. 2966, 3011 ff., vii. 770.
franchise, s. P. 761, ii. 3483, iii. 2699,
(fraunchise, viii. 3023), freedom, privilege, liberality.
franchised, pp. ii. 3263, privileged.
fraternite, s. v. 1775.[Pg 591]
fraude, s. ii. 2151, 3046, iii. 1068.
fre, a. i. 752, 1930, ii. 2112, iii. 2236, v. 4728 (liberal):
adv. ii. 3253.
frede, v.a. iv. 3511,
pret. fredde, v. 7167, feel.
Frederik, v. 2392.
freissh, freyssh, a. i. 779, iv. 1362,
def. freisshe, fresshe, i. 3353, iii. 1390, v. 6736,
freissh, vii. 5000,
pl. freisshe, freysshe, i. 353, 2355;
comp. freisshere, vi. 768.
freissh, adv. viii. 2487.
frele, a. i. 773, viii. 289, 834, frail.
frely, adv. v. 2847,
freliche, v. 4769.
frend, s. iii. 274, vii. 1574 f.,
pl. frendes, i. 992, 2147.
frended, pp. viii. 1964.
frendliche, adv. vii. 4920.
frendlihede (-hiede), s. iii. 946, v. 4755.
frendly, frendlich, a. i. 2423, v. 4833, viii. 2173.
frendschipe, s. ii. 2179, 2461,
frenschipe, iii. 1060.
frenesie, s. iii. 210, v. 848.
Frensche, a.def. P. 770;
subst. pl. Frensche, ii. 2993.
frere, s. vi. 138, friar.
frese, v.n. iv. 613, 1092, vi. 249.
fressh, see freissh, a.
frete, v.a., 3 s. pres. fret, vii. 412, consume.
frette, s. v. 3015, ornament.
freyne, v.a. v. 7471, question.
friday, s. v. 81.
Frigelond, Frige, v. 147, 272.
Frigidilles, iv. 2408.
Frixus, v. 4254 ff.
fro, prep. P. 169, i. 395, 2895,
mi ladi fro, iv. 558,
cp. v. 3639,
from, v. 6250:
adv. P. 569, i. 457, 1791, iv. 2877.
froise, s. iv. 2732, pancake.
fronce, see frounce.
front, frount, s. i. 1685, iv. 1349, v. 6305, forehead.
frosen, (pp.) a. vi. 245.
frost, s. vii. 282, viii. 2851.
frosti, a. vii. 1205.
frounce, fronce, s. ii. 392, vi. 770, vii. 1594, wrinkle, obstruction.
frounce (up), v.a. i. 1589, wrinkle.
froward, prep. P. 863, away from.
fruit, s. i. 2822, v. 278,
fruyt, v. 374.
fuisoune, v.a. viii. 1992, supply in abundance.
fulfille, v.a. i. 856, 1290, v. 256,
pret. fulfelde, v. 1246,
pp. fulfild, i. 895, ii. 909,
fulfilt, viii. 2211;
v.n. vii. 1584: fill, perform; suffice.
fulgrowe, a. i. 2818.
fulhard, a. viii. 2777.
full, a. P. 399, 558,
ful, P. 89, ii. 598,
def. fulle, iv. 3705,
full, i. 1629,
pl. fulle, v. 822, 2204.
full, ful, adv. P. 451, 787, i. 1171, 1178, ii. 607.
fulle, s. ii. 2826, iv. 948, 2896.
fully, fulli, adv. i. 1292, 2047, 2769,
fulliche, i. 1757, ii. 1326,
fullich, iii. 2661.
fulmanye, a. viii. 2408, very many.
fulofte, adv. P. 507, &c.,
fullofte, i. 662,
fulofte tyme, i. 1382,
cp. iii. 41,
ful ofte, P. 463,
full ofte, ii. 2330.
fulsore, adv. vii. 3153*.
fulwoful, a. i. 3000.
fulwonne, v.a.pp. vii. 736, fully won.
funke, s. vi. 512, spark.
furgh, s. iv. 1846, v. 3527, furrow, (furlong).
furlong, s. v. 1991.
furred, a. i. 627.
further(e), adv. i. 105, 2447, ii. 78, iii. 81,
forther(e), ii. 1191, iii. 2747, vii. 3648.
furthermor(e), forthermor, adv. ii. 626, 1164, iii. 942, iv. 2858,
forthere mor, iii. 885.
fy, interj. i. 616, iv. 610.
fyf, see fyve.
fyhte, see feihte.
fynde, see finde.
fyne, v.a. iv. 2456, refine.
fyne, a. see fin.
fyr, s. P. 344, ii. 164,
on fyre, iii. 16,
be the fyr, iv. 2724,
fer, iii. 694,
pl. fyres, iii. 1039.
fyrdrake, s. vii. 323, fiery dragon.
fyre, s. ii. 150, bolt (of a crossbow).
fyre, fire, v.a. P. 222, i. 1174, ii. 2946, iv. 2088, viii. 2775, set on fire.
fyri, firy, a. i. 144, 2002, iv. 1020, 1274.
fyve, five, num. i. 296, 545, 2163,
fyf, vii. 1706.
G
gabbe, v.n. ii. 1937, lie.
Gabie, vii. 4621 ff.
Gabiens, pl. vii. 4612 ff.
gadre, v.a. v. 1287, 3999;
pres. part. gaderende,
v.n. iii. 858.
gaignage, s. iii. 2347, harvest.
Galahot, viii. 2502.
Galathe(e), ii. 108 ff.[Pg 592]
Galba, vi. 538, 563.
galeie, s. ii. 2543, v. 3915, vii. 3300, viii. 513.
galle, s. iii. 703, v. 1481, vi. 341, vii. 461 ff.
galled, pp. iv. 1344.
game, s. P. 462, i. 1542, ii. 269, iii. 44, viii. 678, 2931, 3087*,
gamen, i. 347, v. 6314, viii. 680,
diverse game, vi. 1849,
in game, ii. 528, iii. 549,
on pure g., iii. 733,
a game, viii. 2319.
gamme, s. vii. 172, scale (of music).
gan, see ginne.
gape, v.n. vii. 3320.
gardin, s. i. 3144, vii. 2279.
garlandes, s.pl. viii. 2467.
garnement, s. i. 2510, v. 7189*.
gaspe, v.n. v. 3975, 4064.
gastly (-li), a. v. 2745, 5062, vii. 4721, fearful.
gate, s. P. 439, i. 299, 2134, iv. 1001, v. 3329 f., vii. 3313*,
gate tre, iv. 3593; gate, way.
gaudes, s.pl. viii. 2906.
gay, a. i. 2704, v. 3106.
Gayus Caligula, viii. 202.
Gayus Fabricius, vii. 2784.
geant, s. ii. 155, 2167, iv. 2075,
pl. geantz, v. 1091.
Geber, iv. 2608.
Gebuz, vii. 1463.
Gedeon, vii. 3633 ff.
Gelboë, iv. 1952.
Gemini, vii. 1031 ff., 1267.
generacion, s. iv. 2227.
general, a. P. 384, ii. 2804, 3084, v. 1700,
in general, P. 431, i. 1502.
Genesi, v. 1602, viii. 42.
genitals, s.pl. v. 855.
Genius, i. 196, iv. 2771, vii. 1, viii. 2306, 2809, 2893.
gentil, a. P. 61*, i. 2665, ii. 1180, iv. 206, 2223,
gentile, v. 2713, viii. 2294:
s. the gentils, iv. 2199, v. 1271.
gentilesse, -esce, s. i. 1436, 1721, iii. 2699, iv. 2202,
gentillesse, viii. 730.
geomance, vi. 1295, divination by earth.
geometrie, s. vii. 151.
Geptes, pl. i. 2466.
gerarchie, s. vii. 1773, rule.
gerdil, s. v. 6866.
gere, s. i. 1996, v. 2984, 3663.
gert, pp. v. 3965.
gesse, s. i. 1889, vii. 3548,
al to gesses, v. 840,
withoute gesses, v. 1136.
gesse, v.a.n. P. 64, i. 896, iv. 282, 881, vi. 1592.
gest, s.,
pl. gestes, v. 493, guest.
geste, s. v. 5275,
pl. gestes, v. 6359, vii. 4313, story.
Geta, Gete, ii. 2477 ff.
gete(n), v.a. (n.) P. 312, i. 628, 793, iv. 2124,
get, (inf.) ii. 60,
3 s.pres. get, v. 6086,
pret. gat, i. 3420, iv. 136,
pp. gete, ii. 977, 1813, get, beget.
getinge, s. vii. 2309.
Ghenbal, vi. 1320.
gibet, s. iii. 2104.
Gibiere, vi. 1323.
gilt, see gult.
ginne, v.n.,
3 s.pres. ginth, v. 6010,
pret. gan, i. 110, 114, 199, &c.,
pl. gonnen, v. 3764.
gknawe, see gnawe.
glad, a. P. 55*, i. 158,
gladd, v. 495,
pl. glade, P. 299, i. 1114;
compar. gladdere, iv. 1543,
gladder, v. 5373;
sup. gladdest, vii. 2422.
glade(n), v.a. i. 2767, iv. 3199;
v.n. i. 2738, ii. 2737, vi. 1211;
refl. i. 2532, vii. 2605: gladden; rejoice.
gladly, adv. ii. 284, 2032.
gladnesse, s. i. 90, ii. 223, iv. 2784.
gladschipe, s. i. 3128, ii. 229,
gladschip, iii. 72.
glas, s. ii. 1921, v. 2154, mirror.
glede, s. iii. 39, hot coal.
glistre, v.n. i. 1137, v. 3734, vii. 815.
Glodeside, i. 2575 ff.
gloire, s. P. 262, i. 2677, 2720.
glorious, s. v. 6815, vii. 890.
glose, s. i. 271, vii. 2171, comment, flattery.
glose, v.a. i. 1254, vii. 3786, explain, conceal;
v.n. v. 6537, vii. 2172, 2531, 3973, flatter, cajole.
glotonie, s. vi. 543, 1161.
glotoun, s. v. 1058, 1469.
glove, s. P. 357, iii. 2154, v. 7047.
glu, s. v. 3603.
glyde, v.n. v. 5062, vii. 326,
pret. glod, v. 3967.
gnawe, gknawe, v.a.n. ii. 520, vi. 372,
pp. gnawe, iii. 2014.
go, gon, v.n. P. 17, 697, i. 1444, 1514, iv. 1583, &c.,
refl. i. 1619, 2177;
3 s.pres. goth, P. 269, i. 933, 1619,
geth, ii. 1804, 2616, iii. 2300,
imperat. go, i. 1261,
go we, i. 1769,
goth, v. 2343,
pp. go, gon, P. 132, i. 87,
(goon, viii. 3033, PP. 102),
time go, iv. 297,
go, gon, (= ago), i. 64, ii. 2096.[Pg 593]
god, s. P. 27, 72, i. 836,
godd, i. 921, 1903,
genit. goddes, i. 855,
godes, i. 2718,
(goddis, PP. 32),
pl. goddes, ii. 190.
goddesse, s. i. 125, iii. 753, v. 839, 1151,
godesse, i. 235, 369, 805.
a goddeshalf, v. 4452 (see note),
cp. v. 5016.
Godefroi, PP. 283.
Godelie, vii. 2553.
godespourveiance, s. PP. 21 (MS.).
godhede, godhiede, s. P. 192, 498, iii. 2523, v. 1102.
godward, i. 869.
gold, s. P. 205, i. 1101, 2537, iii. 1701.
golde, a. P. 631, v. 6780.
goldhord, s. v. 2118, hoard of gold.
goldring, s. ii. 2607, v. 2202.
gone, v.n. v. 4064, gape.
good, a. P. 4, 88*, 146, &c.,
def. goode, P. 459, i. 1257,
good, i. 2764,
voc. goode, i. 3147,
pl. goode, P. 42, i. 2976;
as subst. v. 3831.
good, s. P. 249, i. 1183, v. 4926,
pl. goodes, i. 628, v. 4984, wealth, kindness.
goode, s. P. 237, i. 1150, 2773, iv. 2369, goodness, advantage.
goodlihiede, s. iv. 608.
goodly, goodli, a. i. 152, 2422, 3137, ii. 19,
goodlych, ii. 2026:
adv. goodliche, ii. 787,
goodli, goodly, iv. 152, vii. 5362.
goodnesse, s. P. 485.
goodschipe, s. iv. 2173, vi. 1474.
gore, s. v. 5730, cloak, cover.
Gorgones, i. 402.
gorgonza, vii. 1367 (name of a stone).
goshauk, s. iv. 2935, v. 5644.
gospell, gospel, s. P. 967, iii. 2492, v. 1794.
gost, s. iv. 574.
gostly, gostli, a. P. 420, ii. 2818, v. 1948,
gostliche, v. 1855:
adv. gostli, v. 1874.
got, s. vii. 345, 1171, goat.
governance, s. P. 108, i. 3391, v. 971,
governaunce, P. 187.
governe, v.a.n. P. 721, i. 43, 2009, viii. 947,
refl. i. 2621.
governour, s. iii. 2729, v. 1016.
governynge, s. PP. 31.
Gower, viii. 2321, 2908, PP. 374.
grace, s. P. 89, i. 732, 859, 1684, 2158, ii. 2630,
pl. graces, i. 51, grace, favour, pardon.
gracious, a. i. 137, ii. 562, 3080, v. 409, favourable, kind, favoured.
gradde, v.n.pret. iii. 1692, v. 5004;
v.a. vi. 445: cried out, cried out for.
gramaire, s. vii. 1528 ff.
grame, s. iii. 48, 734, trouble.
grant, graunt, s. i. 793, 1449, ii. 1505, v. 969, permission, gift.
grantdame, s. i. 1445.
grante(n), v.a.n. P. 92, i. 1828, 2597,
graunte, ii. 1463, viii. 3110*.
grant merci (-y), i. 1832, 1902, ii. 2313, 3366, thanks.
grape, s. v. 1230, viii. 2849.
gras, s. i. 352, 2844, vii. 1306,
grass, vii. 289,
pl. grases, i. 2976, grass, herb.
grase, v.n. i. 2974.
grave, s. i. 1838, ii. 1525.
grave(n), v.a.pp. i. 555, iii. 2078, iv. 3672, engraved, buried.
gravel, s. v. 311.
Grece, P. 717, i. 1108, ii. 1644, iii. 1828, 2310, 2547, iv. 1872, v. 817, 1337, 1560, 1592, 3247, 3359, 3685, 3902, 3927, 4022, 4249, 7199 ff., vii. 887, viii. 2515, 2631, 2706.
Grecs, see Grek.
grede, see gradde.
gredi, a. v. 2006.
gredily, adv. v. 2240,
griedili, v. 2017.
(greede, v.n. v. 394*, desire.)
Gregeis, a. v. 3311:
cp. Gregois.
Gregoire, P. 284, 945, v. 1746 ff., 1901, 6396*.
Gregois, s. iv. 2401, Greek (language),
pl. Gregois, Gregeis, i. 1117, 1162, iii. 970 ff., 1759, iv. 1819, 2147, v. 3074, 3753, 3778, 7580, vii. 3059, Greeks:
cp. Grek.
greie, greye, a.pl. v. 2473, 6305, vii. 4418.
grein, s. P. 320, ii. 3310, v. 1885, vi. 770, grain, condition.
greine, v.n. v. 823, 7626, bear corn, ripen.
Grek, s. iv. 2627, Greek (language), vi. 1314, viii. 2544;
pl. Greks, Grecs, P. 696, i. 1080, ii. 1807, iii. 1889 ff., 2677, iv. 1699, v. 1056 ff., 1304 ff., 3148, 7356,
Grekes, v. 1365, 1455, 3355.
grene, a. P. 935, i. 113, 778, ii. 496, vii. 4618, 5040,
greene, iv. 1491, 2309, green, fresh.
grene, s. i. 682, 2348,
griene, iv. 3325, green field;
greene, vii. 1168, greenness.
gret, a. P. 226, iv. 1837,
grete, iv. 453, v. 5737,
def. grete, P. 748, ii. 588,
pl. P. 78, i. 2683;
as subst. i. 3365;
compar. grettere, iv. 1459,
gretere, vi. 2219;
sup. greteste, ii. 599.
grete, v., see griete.[Pg 594]
gretli, gretly, adv. P. 164, ii. 2834, iii. 1321.
grevable, a. iv. 309, grievous.
grevance, s. i. 1308, 1500, ii. 1657, iii. 296,
grievance, vi. 969, harm, grief.
greve, s. v. 4015, v. 5965, grove.
greven, v., see grieve.
grevous, a. v. 469, vii. 3258.
griedili, see gredily.
grief, s. ii. 210, iii. 2724.
griete, v.a. v. 5583,
3 s.pres. gret, vi. 1742,
pret. grette, vii. 4520,
imperat. griet, i. 2433,
gret, viii. 2941*, greet.
grietinge, s. i. 2425.
grievance, see grevance.
grieve, greve(n), v.a.n. P. 283, i. 326, ii. 119, iii. 10, vi. 367;
impers. P. 1086, i. 2011, ii. 54: hurt, vex, do injury, be vexed.
grinde, v.a.,
3 pl. pret. grounde, iii. 3.
gripe, s.,
genit. gripes, i. 2545, griffin.
grisel, s. viii. 2407.
grith, iii. 1847, protection.
grom, s. ii. 3408, servant.
grone, v.n. iv. 3170, v. 539, vi. 2113.
grope, v. ii. 3015, v. 103, viii. 2795.
Grossteste, iv. 234.
groucche, see grucche.
ground, s. P. 1062, i. 473, ii. 3432,
to grounde, i. 119, 2051,
upon grounde, i. 2300,
upon the ground, i. 2830,
fro the grounde, v. 160,
fro the ground, v. 5702,
unto the grounde, v. 5007.
grounded, pp. ii. 1753, iv. 1966, vii. 1433, viii. 1993, based, composed, disposed.
groundles, a. vii. 4827, bottomless.
growe, v.n. P. 163, 511, ii. 46, iv. 3006,
pret.pl. grewe, i. 2084,
pp. growen, i. 553, iii. 152.
growinge, s. P. 952.
grucche, v.n. i. 1264, 1349, v. 545, 4852,
groucche, vii. 2193, complain.
grucchinge, s. ii. 2222.
guide, s. P. 145, 391, ii. 1328.
guide, guyde, v.a. P. 128, ii. 1884, 7702, direct, carry on.
guie, guye, v.a. vii. 1673, 1774, viii. 2660.
guile, s. i. 890, ii. 479,
(guyle, PP. 308).
guile, v.a.n. ii. 1915, v. 3204.
Guilliam de Langharet, ii. 2995.
guilour, s. vi. 1381, 2015.
guise, s. i. 2696, 2706, viii. 676, fashion.
gule, s. vi. 10, 629, gluttony.
gulion, s. v. 6861, tunic, garment.
gult, gilt, i. 1880, 3334, ii. 1935, iv. 886, 1223, guilt.
gulte, v.n. ii. 3294, be guilty.
gulteles, a. ii. 1702, 2153, iii. 870,
gylteles, vi. 728.
gultif, gultyf, a. i. 558, 2448, ii. 873, guilty.
Gunnore, viii. 2502, Guinevere.
Gurmond, i. 2466,
genit. Gurmondes, Gurmoundes, i. 2474 ff.
guye, see guie.
gylteles, see gulteles.
H
ha, interj. i. 1659, iii. 462,
ha lord, i. 2207,
Ha mercy, iii. 225,
A godd, iv. 3622.
habit, s. iv. 2575.
habitable, a. vii. 586.
Habraham,
genit. Habrahammes, v. 1628, 1650, vi. 1023 ff., vii. 1473, viii. 98 ff.
haft, s. iv. 926.
hail, s. vii. 296.
hale, v.a.n. ii. 2354, v. 5023, 5431, vii. 273.
half, halve, s. P. 133, 395, i. 1062, ii. 2787, iii. 1071, iv. 241, side, half;
a goddes half, v. 5016, in God’s name,
cp. v. 4452,
in Cristes halve, PP. 120, for Christ’s sake:
adv. half, ii. 1955, iv. 1857.
halfdede, a.pl. vi. 594.
halfdrunke, a. vi. 58.
halfwode, a. vi. 513, half mad.
haliday, s. v. 7058.
halle, s. i. 2113, 2201, iv. 1325.
hals, s. v. 2914, neck.
halsen, v.a. iv. 3074, explain (as an omen).
halten, v.n. iii. 917, v. 1348,
pret. haltede, iv. 1345, go lame.
haltres, s.pl. iv. 1357 ff.
halve, see half.
halvendel, s. v. 2109, 4985, half.
halvinge, halvynge, adv. iv. 1885, viii. 2319, 2397,
halfvinge, vii. 3398.
halwe, v.a. v. 7051,
pp. halwed, v. 7028*.
hand, see hond.
handle, v.a. P. 65*, iii. 1956,
(pp. handlid, PP. 321).
hange, honge, v.n. i. 1479, 1682, 2181, iii. 1555, 2105, iv. 303,[Pg 595]
pret. pl. hyngen, iv. 1358;
v.a. v. 6560,
pret. hyng, iii. 2181, iv. 860,
heng, ii. 3094, viii. 2905,
pl. hinge, v. 1722,
pp. honged, v. 2811, vi. 1514.
hansell, s. v. 7160.
Hanybal, v. 2054, 2198.
hapne, v.impers. ii. 2234, iii. 2652, iv. 734;
pers. v. 7831: happen, appear.
happ, i. 1717, iii. 70,
hap, i. 67,
pl. happes, ii. 2547, v. 2249, fortune, chance.
happe, v.n. v. 2336, viii. 1127;
impers. ii. 718, iii. 1357:
cp. hapne.
happi, a. iv. 367.
hard, a. P. 640, i. 2330, iv. 3583, v. 452,
def. harde, i. 2985,
pl. harde, ii. 3027, iv. 2105;
superl. hardest, P. 733.
harde, adv. i. 1050, ii. 1821.
hardi, hardy, a. ii. 2621, iii. 539, 2404, iv. 161.
hardiesce(-esse), s. iv. 2015, 2088, vii. 1861.
hardinesse, s. iv. 1966.
hardnesse, s. iv. 2495, 2557.
hare, s. P. 1061, iv. 2720, vii. 3776.
harm, s. P. 344, ii. 370, iii. 757, v. 716,
pl. harmes, iv. 881, v. 3360.
harme, v.a. vii. 1135, 4354.
harneis, s. v. 3109, vi. 1652, vii. 3326*, suit of armour, trappings.
harpe, s. P. 1055, iv. 2418, viii. 758.
harpe, v. P. 1073, v. 922, viii. 1670.
haste, s. P. 650, i. 2201, ii. 1542.
haste(n), v.n. ii. 1541, iii. 1652, iv. 290;
refl. i. 2302, ii. 1831;
v.a. iii. 1656, 1723, v. 3342.
hastely, adv. v. 4044.
hastifesse, s. v. 1482.
hastihiede, s. v. 3532.
hastyf, hastif, a. iv. 1629, v. 6286.
hat, s. ii. 1872.
hate, s. P. 128, i. 1844, iii. 285.
hate(n), v.a. P. 927, 997, i. 2454, iii. 935.
hatte, v. see hote.
hauberk, s. v. 3170.
hauk, s. i. 2672, v. 4725, 6129.
haunte, v.a. i. 2656, ii. 482, v. 1956, practise.
have, v. P. 61, i. 3344, v. 2839,
2 s.pres. hast, i. 176,
3 s. hath, P. 88, 130,
3 pl. have, i. 1361, &c.,
han, i. 1021,
pret. hadde(n), P. 227, &c.,
hade, iv. 650, viii. 1430,
had, v. 5865,
pp. had, P. 62,
hadd, i. 129, v. 113.
haveles, a. v. 2506, 6968, destitute.
havene, s. iii. 1038, v. 7557, viii. 1275.
havinge, s. vii. 2274, possession.
he, pron. P. 69,
him, P. 15, 88,
hem (pl. obl.) P. 1, 155, 415,
him (= himself), P. 676, i. 26,
(hym, viii. 3089),
hem (= themselves), i. 625.
hebenus, s. iv. 3017.
Hebreu, s. iv. 2398, 2653, Hebrew (language);
Hebreus, vii. 4417, viii. 138,
thebreus, vii. 3054.
Hector, iv. 2141, v. 2550, 7332,
Ector, viii. 2526, PP. 281.
Hecuba, v. 7308.
hed, s. (1) P. 605, i. 2535, iii. 1212 (of a cask), iv. 236,
heved, P. 152, i. 1536,
hefd, i. 199,
on hede, vii. 846,
on hevede, vii. 1108,
of hed, iv. 3439 (see note),
pl. hefdes, vii. 4694,
hevedes, viii. 369; head:
as a. vii. 811, viii. 3013*, chief.
hed, s. (2) ii. 2066, condition (?).
heiere, see hih.
heihte, heyhte, s. i. 2820, vii. 180,
on (upon) heihte, P. 1019, i. 467, 2673,
upon heighte, iv. 2124, vii. 1121.
heil, a. i. 703, 2122, healthy, wholesome.
heir, s. i. 1429, ii. 1320,
eir, iii. 2708,
hair, ii. 2578, iv. 1252.
helas, interj. i. 974, 3183, iii. 1472:
cp. allas.
hele, s. P. 278, 397, i. 1821, 2761, v. 2835,
soule hele, P. 749, ii. 1313; health, salvation, profit.
hele, v.a. (1) P. 398,
heele, vii. 1568, heal.
hele, v.a. (2), ii. 1955, iii. 779, 2756, v. 4033;
v.n. ii. 2056: conceal, cover.
Heleine (1), Heleyne, v. 3073, 7472 ff.,
Eleine, viii. 2529, Helen (of Troy).
Heleine (2), ii. 3471, (mother of Constantine).
Heleine (3), ii. 1200, 1437.
Helenus, v. 7461, 7569.
hell, hel, s. i. 424, ii. 163, iv. 1980, 2991, vii. 3721,
hull, P. 618, v. 1573, vii. 3706,
pl. helles, iii. 1035,
hulles, v. 3996, hill.
helle, s. P. 456, i. 3410, ii. 3135, v. 29,
helle king, iv. 2851.
Hellen, v. 4257.
Hellican, viii. 575.
Helmege, i. 2592 ff.
helpe, help, s. P. 801, i. 2639, ii. 1329, 1516, iv. 986.
helpe(n), v.a.n. i. 25, 820, iv. 2291,
pret. halp, i. 421, 1947,
imperat. help, v. 4970.
helpeles, a. ii. 1394, viii. 1125, PP. 263.
helpinge, s. v. 4695.
helplich, a. iii. 503, vi. 1324.[Pg 596]
helthe, s. P. 96, 1052, i. 2496, health, salvation.
hemself, pl. P. 302, 682, i. 1016,
hemselve(n), P. 351, ii. 98, vii. 2436.
hen, s. v. 4101,
pl. hennes, viii. 159.
hende, a. as subst. iv. 644, graceful creature.
Henri, P. 87, PP. 358,
Henry, PP. 1,
genit. Henries, PP. 272.
hente, v.a. iv. 2798, 2890,
pret. hente, i. 144, ii. 1274,
pp. hent, i. 3379, take, seize.
hep, s. iv. 3008, great quantity.
hepe, s. v. 2872, hook.
hepehalt, a. v. 957, lame.
her, s. i. 2181, v. 3964,
pl. heres, i. 2999, hair.
her, pron. see here.
herald, s. i. 2403,
pl. heraldz, i. 2526, iv. 1632.
heraldie, s. ii. 399, see note.
herbage, see therbage.
herbe, s. v. 3802, vi. 1408, vii. 1317 ff.
herber, s. iv. 833.
herbergage, s. ii. 1337, iv. 82, vii. 1069, lodging.
herbergour, s. ii. 1329.
Hercules, ii. 2154 ff., iv. 2057 ff., v. 1083, 1474, 3294, 3470, 3668, 3878, 6808 ff., 7198, 7217, vii. 3348, viii. 2506, 2560.
here, v. see hiere.
here, her, pron. poss. P. 51, 154, &c., their:
here tuo, v. 7651, of them two.
Heredot, iv. 2413.
heresie, s. P. 350.
heringe, hieringe, s. i. 449, vi. 909, vii. 3770.
heritage, s. i. 2619, ii. 1025,
pl. heritages, vii. 2008.
herke, v.imperat. ii. 1226,
herk, v. 5878, listen.
herkne, v.a.n. i. 96, 329, 1596, 2780, ii. 1999, 2037, listen to, listen.
Hermes, iv. 2606, vii. 1437, 1476.
Hermyngeld, Hermyngheld, ii. 749 ff.
herre, s.,
out of h., P. 962, ii. 2964, iii. 72, PP. 185, off the hinges, out of order.
hert, i. 371, 2299, iv. 1300, hart.
herte, s. P. 85, 382,
genit. herte, i. 145,
hertes, i. 774,
pl. hertes, i. 2087,
but oure herte, here herte, sing. iii. 1473, iv. 1377,
tok to herte, v. 807.
herted, a. ii. 640.
herteles, a. iv. 349, vi. 254.
hertly, a. ii. 2734, v. 4177,
hertely, vi. 2026.
herto, adv. ii. 2215.
Herupus, iv. 1246.
hervest, s.v. 2240.
heste, s. P. 910, i. 813,
pl. hestes, i. 1335, command.
hete, s. i. 3353, ii. 2740,
heete, vii. 3213*,
pl. hetes, iv. 2521, heat.
hete, v.n. viii. 1195, grow hot.
hethen, a. ii. 1090, 3435, vii. 3693,
the hethen, pl. subst. iv. 1659.
heve, v.a. v. 381, vi. 146, lift.
heved, see hed.
hevene, s. P. 141,
(heven, PP. 79),
genit. hevene, P. 66*, ii. 2058, iii. 2286.
hevenely, hevenly, a. P. 918, i. 834, 3136, v. 774,
hevenelich(e), i. 2848, vi. 1529.
heveneriche, s. ii. 3150, vii. 3034.
heveneward, adv. v. 730.
hevy, a. i. 1384, 2871, v. 6600,
hevy chiered, viii. 2533.
hevynesse, hevinesse, s. ii. 224, iv. 2936, viii. 729, PP. 152.
hewe, v.a. i. 2903,
pret. hiewh, v. 4072,
hieu, v. 5897,
imperat. hew, i. 2834;
v.n. i. 1917.
hewe, s. (1), i. 701, 2699, ii. 2738, iv. 2981, hue.
hewe, s. (2), ii. 404, fellow.
hewed, a. i. 2043.
hey, s. viii. 2437, hay.
heyher, heyhte, see hih, heihte.
hide, hyde, v.a. i. 1784, 2388, ii. 434,
pret. hedde, ii. 2889, v. 1254, 1930,
hidde, v. 1845,
imperat. hyd, i. 166,
hyde, iii. 1502,
pp. hid, hidd, P. 181, i. 607, ii. 1874,
hedd, iii. 1920,
pl. hidde, v. 6789.
hider, hidir, adv. iv. 1788, vi. 1070.
hidous, a. vii. 4710.
hie, v.n. ii. 814, iii. 1288, v. 5040,
hye, ii. 2233, v. 3995 (refl.), hasten:
cp. hye, s.
hiede, s. P. 497, i. 1211, 2192, &c.,
hede, iii. 67, iv. 447,
heede, ii. 74, heed.
hiele, s. P. 443, v. 2484, viii. 2154, heel.
hierafter, adv. i. 77, ii. 2326.
hierafterward, adv. P. 26, i. 1869.
hierde, s. P. 415, iii. 1820, keeper (of sheep, &c.).
hiere, v.a.n. P. 156, i. 532, 2760,
here, P. 482, iv. 2795,
(3 pl. pres. hierin, viii. 3017),
pret. herde, P. 1063, i. 1008,
herd, iii. 2082,
pp. herd, P. 86*, i. 446,
herde, v. 4231,
imperat. hier, i. 197.
hiere, adv. P. 5, 1011,
hier, i. 1587,
here, iv. 1292,[Pg 597]
her, vii. 278,
(heer, viii. 3050*),
hier tofore, v. 65,
here above, iv. 2190,
h. and there, iv. 2117, v. 689.
hieringe, see heringe.
hierof, adv. i. 850, 2448, iv. 1791.
hih, hyh, a. i. 1026,
hihe, ii. 2425,
(highe, PP. 256),
def. hihe, hyhe, P. 88, 188,
(highe, PP. 8),
hih, iv. 2064, v. 6428*,
(heyh, viii. 3022*),
pl. hyhe, i. 1678;
on hyh, on hih, P. 307, i. 2832, ii. 870, 2959,
upon hy, vii. 273;
the hihe See, iii. 1063,
hyh midday, iv. 3273;
comp. heiere, vi. 404,
heyher, vii. 253;
sup. the heyeste, vii. 935,
hyest, vii. 2451,
heihest, vii. 3442.
hihe, hyhe, adv. i. 1917, 2280,
hye, iv. 1037.
hihe, v.n. viii. 587, go higher;
pp. hyed, vii. 1115, exalted.
hihe, hye, s. iv. 227, vii. 864, viii. 913, haste.
hihte, see hote.
hilte, s. iii. 1445.
himself, himselve(n), pron. P. 157, 177, i. 326, 1133, 1897, v. 3592, viii. 2527,
(himsilve, PP. 61),
him self, P. 244,
(hym self, viii. 3070 ff.).
hinde, hynde, s. P. 1059, iv. 1300, 1978.
hindre, v.a. ii. 283, 1572, iii. 891.
hindrere, s. iii. 1526, iv. 2866, vii. 803.
hindringe, s. i. 315, 2096, iii. 913,
hindrynge, iv. 1876.
hire, hir, pers. pron. i. 181, 365 ff., 3188, iv. 766, her; i. 364, 866, 1693, herself.
hire, hir, poss. pron. P. 130, i. 188, 1678 ff., her;
disj. hires, v. 4770,
hire, v. 6581, hers.
hirself, hireself, pron. i. 972, 2601, ii. 1034,
(hirsilf, PP. 254),
sche hirself, iv. 3618,
hirselve(n), hireselven, ii. 1142, iv. 860, v. 3737.
his, poss. pron. P. 71, 95,
pl. hise, P. 190, i. 669, &c.,
his, P. 607, &c.;
disj. his, ii. 2445,
of his, ii. 2525.
histoire, s. iv. 660, 2360, vi. 885.
hit, see it.
hit, v.a. 3 s.pres. iii. 450, hits.
ho, interj. iv. 1682, v. 2219, vii. 571, 5438, stop!
hod, s. i. 627, v. 4787, 7716, hood.
hol, a. P. 91, 722,
hool, vii. 1943,
def. hole, i. 981, 1828,
hol, P. 668, whole:
adv. i. 867, 2623,
hole, vii. 3773.
hold, s. ii. 1689, 2745, iv. 3024, stronghold, prison.
holde(n), v.a.n. P. 389, 531, i. 1696, iii. 1824,
3 s.pres. holt, ii. 468, v. 507,
halt, i. 1927, ii. 1903,
hald, v. 1981,
pret.s. hield, P. 723, i. 1730,
hild, v. 1438,
pl. hielden, i. 3238,
hield, vii. 3574,
pret. subj. hielde, v. 82,
imperat. 2 s. hold, iii. 608,
3 s. holde, v. 1944,
pp. holde(n), P. 102, 224, 363: hold, stand firm, possess, consider.
holdinge, s. v. 7655.
hole, s. (1), iii. 1371.
hole, s. (2), v. 4451, whole.
holi, holy, a. P. 225, 267, iii. 2500,
holi lond, vii. 905.
holi, holy, holly, adv. i. 943, iv. 91, 2737, v. 7109, wholly.
holinesse, s. i. 831, 1129, ii. 220.
holsome, a.(pl.) vii. 2277.
hom, s.,
at hom, ii. 925, 1342, iii. 1207,
at home, ii. 782, iii. 1140, iv. 1828,
fro home, iii. 1905, iv. 167:
hom, as adv. i. 861, 953,
home, ii. 814, iv. 227.
homage, s. ii. 2687,
hommage, ii. 2968.
homicide, s. iii. 1093, 1589.
homward, adv. i. 938, iii. 981, 1021, 2451, iv. 219.
hond, s. P. 356, 768,
hand, i. 2, 1807,
in honde, P. 205,
on (upon) honde, P. 61, 242, i. 1542, 2517, v. 3748,
out of h., P. 808, iii. 326,
to honde, i. 788, ii. 2614,
bere on hond, iii. 664, iv. 32, v. 546,
cp. v. 496,
be the hond, i. 3225,
tofor the hond, &c., i. 518, iv. 893, v. 4292,
his oghne hond, iii. 2142,
cp. iv. 2436:
pl. hondes, P. 190, &c.,
handes, i. 2994, v. 1505,
his oghne hondes, i. 1427, iii. 2011, v. 2306.
honeste, a. P. 216, i. 868, 975, ii. 1283, vii. 930, honourable, good.
honestely, honesteliche, adv. i. 843, vii. 5075, viii. 1995 f., honourably.
honestete, s. vii. 1671, 5388.
honge, see hange.
honochinus, vii. 1377.
Honorius, vi. 1331.
honour, s. P. 221, i. 879, iv. 1865,
thonour, i. 1719.
honourable, honorable, a. ii. 1460, 3017, iv. 2030.
honoure, v.a. P. 313, ii. 1841, 2986, v. 792.
hony, s. v. 4049, vi. 928.
hool, see hol.
hope, s. P. 71*, i. 893, 1654.
hope, v.n. P. 160, iii. 531.
hoppe, v.n. v. 6042.[Pg 598]
hor, a. iii. 1801,
pl. hore, i. 1685, 1750, hoary.
hord, s. vii. 2094, treasure.
Horestes, iii. 1958 ff.
horn, s. i. 374,
pl. hornes, i. 343, 2298, iv. 2116.
horned, a. v. 4131.
horrible, a. i. 1045, iii. 235.
hors, s. i. 1087, 1724,
genit. horse (side, heved), P. 1085, i. 1536, 2301,
horse bak, ii. 3007,
(cp. horsebak),
horse haltres, iv. 1357,
horse knave, iv. 1399,
dat. on horse, ii. 1497,
to horse, vii. 4995,
pl. hors, i. 2036, iv. 996, v. 6055, vii. 3343 ff.
horsebak, s. vii. 4908.
horsmen, s.pl. ii. 1824.
hose, s. vii. 4306, stocking.
host, s. P. 754, ii. 1765, army.
hostage, s. ii. 632.
hoste, s. vii. 3357, viii. 1289, host, guest.
hot, a. i. 2004, ii. 10, v. 6600,
hoot, vii. 3250*,
pl. hote, i. 2977, iii. 22,
fot hot, iv. 3350;
as subst. P. 977;
comp. hotere, vi. 210;
sup. hotest, vii. 1887,
the hoteste, as subst. i. 2492, ii. 415.
hote, adv. i. 2595, ii. 132,
hot, iii. 526.
hote, v.n.(a.), v. 1327 (be called), 2865 (command),
pret. hihte, hyhte, P. 679, i. 401, 765,
hatte, ii. 975, v. 1082, vii. 347,
pp. hote, i. 337, 782, 1234.
hou, how, adv. and conj. P. 41, i. 184,
how that, P. 195, i. 799,
how ... that, iv. 235,
how so that, howso that, ii. 3482, iii. 1368,
how evere that, how evere, how so evere, hou as evere (that), P. 425, 481, i. 991, iv. 182, 1691,
how so, ii. 441, iii. 1364,
how, hou (= how so), iv. 415, 1848.
houle, v.n. v. 4132.
hound, s. P. 1061, i. 343, ii. 84, iii. 2077.
houre, s. iii. 29, iv. 241, 277.
hous, s. iii. 88, 1208,
to (into) house, iii. 444, 657,
in house, v. 4799,
of house, vii. 4921;
hous (in astronomy), iv. 3223 ff., vii. 991 ff.,
pl. houses, vii. 1173.
house, v.n. P. 318;
v.a. vi. 498.
housebonde, s. i. 857, v. 2818, vii. 4801,
housbonde, v. 4627,
pl. housebondes, vii. 5347.
houshold, s. ii. 438, 1895, vii. 1675.
housinge, s. v. 6662.
hove, v.n. i. 1538, ii. 3006, iii. 1233, vi. 1848,
imperat. hove (out of), iii. 1307, stay.
hovedance, s. vi. 144, viii. 2680.
how, howso, see hou.
huge, a. ii. 2300.
huissher, s. ii. 2130.
hull, see hell.
hully, a. P. 651.
Humber, ii. 720.
humble, a. i. 674, 2183, vii. 4036.
humble, v.a. i. 2065.
humblesce, humblesse, s. i. 2256, vii. 4501.
humilite, s. P. 223, i. 2050.
hundred, num. iii. 29, iv. 3329,
hundrid, iv. 2706.
Hungarie, i. 2022.
hunger, s. ii. 1856, 3028, v. 280.
hungerstorven, pp. vi. 810.
hungre, v.n. vi. 760, impers. vi. 822.
hungred, a. vi. 1007.
hungri, a. v. 1998.
hunte, s. v. 919, 6126, huntsman.
hunte, v.n. i. 348, 2294.
hunting(e), huntynge, s. i. 345, iv. 2429, v. 4941.
hurte, v.a. iii. 117, viii. 2745,
pp. hurt, vi. 1685.
hurtes, s.pl. vii. 4618.
hy, see hih.
hyde, s. iv. 3454.
hyde, v., see hide.
hye, v.n., see hie.
hye, s. see hihe, s.
hyed, see hihe, v.
hyhte, see hote.
hyre, s. iii. 2024, viii. 2291.
hyre, v.a. ii. 391.
I
I, pers. pron. P. 17, &c.,
it am I, iv. 3622,
cp. vi. 160,
(y, viii. 2938 ff., PP. 25 ff.).
Iante, iv. 478 ff.
Icharus, iv. 1040 ff.
iconomique, s. vii. 1670, economics.
idelschipe, see ydelschipe.
idoles, see thidoles.
if, conj. P. 93, i. 2203,
if that, P. 16,
if (interrog.), ii. 14.
ignorance, s. v. 1891, vi. 2314, vii. 4480.
ile, see yle.
Ilicius, vii. 5151 ff.
ilke, a. P. 908, i. 919, 1338, same.
illusion, s. v. 1359.[Pg 599]
immortal, a. viii. 2979.
imperial, a. vi. 1785, vii. 866.
impossible, a. v. 772, 4027, incapable, impossible.
impotent, a. viii. 3127.
impresse, v.a. ii. 2900, iii. 50, iv. 542.
impression, s. iv. 389, vii. 270.
improprelich(e), adv. P. 537, v. 51.
in, s. v. 2733, vii. 4919, lodging, abode.
in, prep. P. 5, 782, 805, iii. 2526, in, on, into:
adv. P. 1082, i. 2037, viii. 1169:
cp. inne, into.
incantacioun, s. vi. 1309.
incurable, a. iv. 3509.
inderly, adv. ii. 2010, inwardly.
indigence, s. vii. 2028.
indrowh. v.a.pret. ii. 3085.
infernal, a. v. 4052.
infortunat, a. viii. 3000*.
infortune, s. ii. 1843, iv. 769,
pl. infortunes, ii. 3190.
injustice, s. vii. 4587.
inly, adv. i. 3324, ii. 1216, inwardly.
inne, adv. P. 1010, i. 303, 969, &c.,
wher inne, i. 2030,
which ... inne, ii. 565, iv. 1868.
innocence, s. i. 596, 852, vii. 4915.
innocent, a. as subst. ii. 465, v. 6341.
inobedience, s. i. 1234 ff.
inquisitif, a. ii. 1987, viii. 410.
insihte, s. iii. 181, iv. 2341, v. 660, 5893, 6838, viii. 576,
insyhte, vi. 1275, perception, note, feeling, care.
inspeccion, s. vii. 456.
instance, s. vii. 2600.
instrument, s. vii. 167.
intelligence, s. vii. 28, 176, viii. 2974.
interpretacioun, s. i. 3070.
interrupcioun, s. P. 985.
intersticion, s. vii. 283, condition.
into, prep. P. 69, 580, i. 739, iii. 290,
in to, P. 93, 691, viii. 2944, into, unto.
intronize, inthronize, see entronize.
invisible, a. v. 3574, 4028.
invocacioun, s. vi. 1329.
inward, adv. i. 634, iv. 2998.
Iphis (1), iv. 467 ff.
Iphis (2), iv. 3517.
ipocrisie, see ypocrisie.
Ipotacie, vi. 486.
Irahel, Irael, P. 551, vii. 2530 ff., 3628, 4123, 4411, viii. 136, 245, Israel.
ire, s. iii. 15, 2726, vii. 3279.
iren, yren, s. iv. 2425, 2470, viii. 1133, iron.
irous, a. vii. 434, wrathful.
Isaäc, viii. 110, 120.
Isirus, Isre, v. 798 ff.
Isis, see Ysis.
issue, s. iii. 2422, v. 2357, viii. 58.
it, pron. P. 8, &c.,
hit, P. 779.
Ithecus, iv. 3044.
Ithis, v. 5887.
iwiss, see ywiss.
J
jacinctus, s. vii. 842, jacinth.
Jacke, v. 7752 ff.
Jacob, viii. 121.
Jadahel, iv. 2427.
jalousie, see jelousie.
James, vii. 3149*.
Janever, vii. 1205, January.
jangle, v.n. ii. 398, 526, iii. 832, v. 6532, vii. 4774, talk, speak evil, dispute.
janglere, s. ii. 425, v. 519 ff.,
pl. janglers, iii. 887, talker, evil speaker.
janglerie, s. ii. 452, (evil) talk.
janglinge, s. P. 69*, iv. 1474.
Janus, vii. 1207.
jape, s i. 2241, ii. 2933, iii. 378.
jape, v.n. v. 6870, vii. 1894.
Japhet, vii. 546, 579, viii. 83.
jargoun, s. v. 4103, note (as of a bird).
jargoune, v.n. v. 5700.
Jason, v. 3241, 3256 ff., 4360, viii. 2504, 2519, 2564,
Jasoun, v. 7198.
jaspis, jaspe, s. vii. 841, 1391, jasper.
jaspre (stones), pl. iv. 3666.
Jebuseie, vii. 3712.
jelous, a. v. 627,
as subst. the jelous, v. 534, 591.
jelousie, s. v. 442 ff.,
jalousie, v. 511, vi. 2249.
Jepte, iv. 1507.
Jeroboas, Jeroboam, vii. 4127, 4520 ff.
Jerom, iv. 2654.
Jerusalem, v. 7019.
jeueals, see juel.
jeupartie, s. i. 1477, 3237, iii. 1173, vii. 3217, 5274, division, contention, danger.
Jew, s. vii. 3239* ff.,
pl. Jewes, iv. 1505, v. 1731,
Jwes, v. 1713, 1808,
Juys, vi. 2384.
Jhesu, v. 1790.
Joab, ii. 3086, vii. 3863.
Joachim, ii. 3056.
Job, v. 2505.
John (St.), i. 656, v. 3416.[Pg 600]
John (Gower), viii. 2321 f., 2908.
joie, joye, s. P. 38*, 1042, i. 1138, 1853,
pl. joies, joyes, i. 2683, ii. 648.
joiefull, joiful(l), a. ii. 273, 934, 3384.
joignt, s. viii. 1197, joint.
joint, joynt, pp. ii. 2791, iv. 2464, joined.
jolif, a. i. 88, i. 2703, vi. 84, vii. 1910.
Jonathas, iv. 1945.
Joram, vii. 2551.
Josaphas, Josaphat(h), vii. 2546 ff.
Josephus, iv. 2410.
Josuë, v. 1687, PP. 282.
journe, iii. 1979.
joust, vii. 5390, just.
jouste, v.n. i. 2514, vi. 1850, viii. 965.
joustinge, s. i. 2509.
joutes, s.pl. vii. 2279, vegetables, (properly ‘beet’).
Jove, vii. 1331, 1411, viii. 2252.
Jubal, iv. 2418.
Judas, i. 657.
Judee, i. 2858, vii. 2547, 3628, viii. 245,
Judeam, v. 1906.
juel, s. v. 1841, 6097,
jeueals, (pl.) v. 2149, viii. 1120, jewel.
jueler, s. v. 5086.
Juerie, vii. 3292*.
Juesse, s. viii. 2694.
jugge, s. i. 1031, ii. 1697.
jugge, v.a.n. vii. 2825, 2906.
juggement, jugement, s. P. 518, 960, i. 1458, vii. 1484,
pl. juggementz, vii. 681.
Juil, see Juyl.
Juin, vii. 1065.
juise, s. P. 1042, i. 1047,
do juise, iii. 322,
take the j., iii. 2008; judgement, punishment.
Julien (St.), iii. 34.
Julius, P. 714, vii. 1597, 1615, 2065 ff., PP. 281.
Juno, iii. 738 ff., 983, iv. 2966 ff., v. 871, 1146, 1172 ff., 1251, 1484, 4332, 4355, 4585 ff., 6285, 7413.
Jupiter, ii. 291, iii. 738 ff, 821, iv. 3318, v. 645, 852, 870 ff., 981, 1044, 1064, 1105, 1165, 1169 ff., 1245, 1404, 3485, 4588, 5741, 6249, 6286, vi. 330, 399, 416, vii. 2372, 3360; (the planet) iv. 2472, vii. 909, 920, 1155, 1230, 1340, 1389:
genit. Jupiteres, v. 1119.
jus, s. v. 4120, juice.
justefie, justifie, v.a. i. 1250, v. 775, 4557, vii. 1244, 1634, set right, prove, rule.
justice, s. P. 102, i. 2451, do justice, i. 1010.
justificacion, s. ii. 296.
Justinian (1), v. 5127.
Justinian (2), vii. 3271 ff.
Jutorne, iii. 821.
Juvente, v. 4037.
Juyl, Juil, vii. 1079, 4300, July.
Juys, see Jew.
K
kacle, v.n. v. 4101, cackle.
Kaire, ii. 2558, 2648, iv. 1658, vii. 3212*.
kalende, s. vii. 1139, beginning.
kan, see conne.
karecte, see carecte.
Karle (Calvus), P. 775.
karole, see carole.
karpe, carpe, v.n. v. 921, vii. 3277*, speak, converse.
keie, s. P. 272, i. 2661, v. 1853,
keye, P. 212.
kempde, v.a.pret. v. 3809,
pp. kembd, kempt, v. 7065, viii. 2466, combed.
ken, kin, s. v. 2470, viii. 146 ff.,
dat. kinne, v. 4180, kin, quality.
kende, see kinde.
kenne, v.a. n. ii. 1331, iv. 831, v. 5443:
cp. conne.
kepe, s. P. 179, i. 1179,
kep, i. 156, v. 3672, care.
kepe(n), v.a.n. P. 150, 475, i. 746, ii. 803,
3 s.pres. kepeth, P. 321,
kepth, v. 4691,
pret. kepte, P. 596, i. 2052, v. 5754, vii. 5261,
kept, ii. 181,
imperat. kep, i. 1227, iii. 1498, PP. 367,
pp. kept, P. 147: keep, hold, take care of, regard, wait for; take care, expect.
kepere, s. v. 4675, vii. 2659,
pl. kepers, ii. 941.
keping(e), i. 2131, v. 1467, viii. 2638.
kerf, s. v. 757, carving.
kerse, s. iii. 588, 1652, cress.
kertell, s. v. 6915,
pl. kertles, iv. 1315.
kerve, v.a. vi. 66, cut.
kesse, see kisse.
keye, see keie.
kid, kidd, pp. iii. 206, v. 2957, 5124, known.
kiele, v.n. v. 6908, grow cool;
v.a. vi. 736, 1065, cool, allay.
kin, see ken.
kinde, kynde, s. P. 535, 733, i. 11, 31, 917, 1624,
kende, v. 4637;
lawe of kynde, i. 2231,
kinde of man, v. 2: nature, manner, race.
kinde, a. iii. 2597, 2706, iv. 502, vii. 4298, kind, natural.[Pg 601]
kindely, adv. ii. 1381, naturally.
kindeschipe, s. ii. 325, v. 4910.
kindly, a. ii. 2740, vii. 1094, natural.
king, kyng, s. P. 25, 186, 256, i. 1094, 2062, 2141.
kingdom, s. i. 2968, vii. 4316, viii. 2112,
kyngdom, viii. 3087.
kingeshalve, s. ii. 1042, king’s behalf.
kingesriche, s. v. 4202, kingdom.
kinghede (-hode), s. vii. 1714, 1765, 3530.
kinled, pp. vii. 340, kindled.
kisse, kesse, v.a. iii. 169, iv. 2824,
pret. keste, P. 109, i. 2053, ii. 1522,
kiste, i. 912, ii. 1441,
kist, v. 3777,
kest, vi. 1746,
pp. kest, iv. 500.
kiste, s. v. 83, 2306, viii. 1230, chest.
kiththe, s. v. 4180, vi. 123, 2087, kith, knowledge.
knape, s. viii. 1374, knave.
Knaresburgh, ii. 943 ff., 1264 ff.
knave, s. iii. 1782, v. 114, 201, vii. 1836, servant;
knave child, iv. 432, v. 4255, boy.
kne, s. P. 609, ii. 772, v. 6566,
pl. knes, knees, i. 213, 3145, iii. 223.
knele, v.n. i. 935, 3027, iv. 1172.
knette, v.a. i. 1420, vii. 1592,
pret. knette, iv. 858,
knet, v. 6866,
pp. knet, v. 4966, fasten together, bind, combine.
knif, knyf, s. ii. 830, iii. 1108, v. 4001.
kniht, knyhthode, &c., see knyht, &c.
knowe(n), v.a.n. P. 72, 140, i. 1579,
pret. knew, i. 1009, 2341,
kneu, v. 2665, 5410,
kniew, iv. 1838,
knewh, ii. 2891,
2 s. knewe, vi. 2313,
pl. knewe(n), P. 106, ii. 3210,
pret. subj. knewe, i. 1312,
imperat. know, vii. 2389,
pp. knowe, i. 1191, 2134;
knowende of, iii. 864, vi. 1398,
knowe of, v. 5356, acquainted (with).
knowleching(e), s. P. 860, i. 1483, ii. 1282, v. 2992,
knouleching(e), iv. 3202, vi. 982,
pl. knowlechinges, vii. 137.
konne, see conne.
knyf, see knif.
knyht, kniht, s. P. 707, i. 316, ii. 587,
(knight, knyght, vii. 3169*, viii. 3059, PP. 243).
knyhthode, knihthode, s. P. 89, ii. 1640, 2513,
knyhthod, knihthod, i. 1436, v. 2057,
(knyghthode, viii. 3021, PP. 155), knighthood, valour.
knyhtlihiede, s. vii. 3592.
knyhtly (-li), knihtly (-li), a. ii. 727, 2625, v. 661, vi. 95.
krepel, s. vii. 1854, cripple.
kressette, s. vii. 3743, cup (for a light).
kutte, cutte, v.a.pret. ii. 831, iii. 823,
kut, vii. 4525,
pp. cut, v. 6520.
kynde, see kinde.
kyng, kyngdom, see king, kingdom.
L
Laar, iii. 819.
Laban, viii. 122.
laborious, a. iv. 2636.
labour, s. i. 3252, iii. 665, iv. 2396.
laboure, v.n. iv. 242, 1691;
v.a. iv. 970.
labourer, s. iv. 2440, vi. 136,
laborer, viii. 3061.
lacche, v.a. P. 410, ii. 109, seize.
lachesce, lachesse, s. iv. 4, 281.
Lachesis, iv. 2761.
lacke, lack, s. P. 393, i. 1988, iv. 335, 1070, v. 6077, want, fault:
cp. lak.
lacke, v.n. P. 428, i. 1366, 2396, 3023,
lakke, ii. 2392,
impers. lacketh, viii. 2427 ff.,
cp. vi. 908, be wanting:
v.a. ii. 530, iii. 2630, iv. 343, want.
laden, pp. viii. 469.
ladi, lady, s. i. 162, 317,
genit. ladi, lady, i. 924, 1263, ii. 40, iv. 1437,
pl. ladis, ladys, iv. 1307, v. 3139.
ladischipe, s. i. 2577, iv. 1120, 1730, vi. 271, 1946, ladyship, honour.
ladiward, ii. 255, iii. 508.
Ladon, v. 1015.
ladre, s. viii. 1644, ladder.
laghtre, s. viii. 2685, laughter.
lak, s. i. 1691, ii. 394, iii. 561, iv. 128, v. 6290, fault.
lame, a. v. 2709.
Lamedon, v. 3303, 7197 ff.,
Lamenedon, viii. 2516.
lampe, s. iv. 258, viii. 2776.
Lampes, vii. 856.
Lancastre, P. 87.
lance, s. viii. 2270.
lancegay, s. viii. 2798.
Lancelot, iv. 2035, viii. 2501.
langage, s. P. 1023, iv. 315.
Langharet, ii. 2995.
lanterne, s. iv. 817.
Laodomie, iv. 1905.
lapacia, vii. 1375.
lape, v.n. vii. 3671, lap.
lapis, iv. 2535 ff.
lappe, s. iv. 303.[Pg 602]
lappe, v.a. v. 4207, 5774, wrap.
lappewincke, s. v. 6041.
larder, s. v. 5513, vii. 1166.
large, a. P. 239, i. 876, 2821, wide, liberal;
at large, P. 46*, ii. 994, iii. 174, iv. 829.
largely, adv. ii. 953,
largeliche, vii. 2052.
largesse, largesce, s. P. 225, v. 409, 1958, 7633 ff., vii. 1989 ff., liberality, gift.
las, s. vii. 4332, lace.
lasse, a.comp. P. 20, 57*, 947, i. 476, ii. 2260,
lesse, v. 2529;
as subst. iii. 93, iv. 2240:
adv. lasse, P. 629, i. 263, 1927,
lesse, i. 1925, v. 4739: less.
lasse, v.a. P. 56, i. 1836, 2401;
v.n. iv. 782: make less; grow less.
last, a. P. 642, vii. 1215,
def. laste, P. 826:
as subst. my laste, iii. 304,
ate l., P. 369, i. 1820,
to the l., P. 250, i. 983, viii. 2784,
as for the l., viii. 2889.
laste, adv. iv. 3383,
last, vii. 4098.
laste(n), v.n. P. 249, 662, iii. 289, v. 279,
pret. laste, P. 672, iv. 2315, last, endure.
late, a. ii. 345, iv. 878,
thoghte al to late til, ii. 1538;
comp. latere, viii. 1323.
late, adv. i. 1645, iv. 1421, late; i. 1843, iii. 219, lately.
Latewar, iv. 252;
cp. iv. 1421.
laththe, s. iii. 84.
Latin, s. ii. 3187, iv. 2638, 2656, Latin (language):
the Latins, iv. 2634:
a. latin, vi. 981.
Latona, v. 1249 ff.
latoun, s. ii. 1850, viii. 569, bronze.
laude, s. vii. 1384, praise.
launde, s. iv. 1290, viii. 2160.
lave, v.a. viii. 1856.
laverock, s. v. 4100.
Lavine, iv. 2187.
lawe, s. P. 102, i. 809, 2793,
(pl. lawis, viii. 3031):
cp. lay.
laweles, a. ii. 2962, vi. 1256.
lawhe, v.n. ii. 245, iv. 641,
lawghe, v. 479,
laghe, viii. 2491,
leyhe, v. 3781,
3 s.pret. lowh, louh, i. 1766, ii. 3320, vi. 2034,
low, P. 1071,
3 pl.pret. lowhen (to scorne), v. 696, 6931; laugh.
lay, s. (1), iv. 109, v. 1191, lake.
lay, s. (2), vii. 1046, viii. 1670, song.
lay, s. (3), ii. 3354, viii. 2663, law.
Lazar, vi. 1037 ff.
lazre, s. vi. 996, leper.
leche, s. ii. 3220, 3296, vi. 866, viii. 1209, physician, remedy.
lecherie, s. v. 1046, 1493, vii. 799.
lecherous, a. v. 1410,
def. lecherouse, vii. 4994.
lechour, s. v. 872.
lecoun, s. iii. 1377, iv. 562.
led, s. iii. 1705, iv. 2471, viii. 1109.
lede(n), v.a. P. 793, i. 784, 2090, iii. 179, 341, iv. 987,
pret. ladde, P. 712, 771, i. 763, iii. 332, v. 1247,
ledde, iii. 2178, v. 677,
pp. lad, i. 1050, ii. 759,
ledd, vi. 870; lead, guide, manage, take.
ledere, s. v. 2055,
pl. leders, v. 7616, leader.
ledinge, s. vii. 5156, 5297.
leese, s. P. 408, meadow.
lef, s. i. 2884, iv. 586,
pl. leves, P. 935, i. 354, leaf.
left, s. iii. 301, left hand.
legges, s.pl. P. 611.
leiance, s. viii. 3058, allegiance.
leie, lein, v.a. i. 500, iv. 1747, v. 2889,
3 s.pres. leith, P. 382, i. 472,
leyth, P. 276,
3 pl. leyn, P. 476,
pret. leide, leyde, i. 1017, 2312, iv. 240,
pp. leid, leyd, P. 48*, i. 892, v. 7596,
laid, v. 4512,
imperat. ley, lei, i. 3434, ii. 1926, viii. 1420; lay, set, apply.
leisir, leiser, s. iii. 1907, iv. 2799, v. 158, 3435, 7035, time, convenience, opportunity.
lemes, see lime, s.
lemman, s. vii. 1899.
lene, a. iv. 1344, lean.
lene, v.a.,
pret. lente, i. 423,
pp. lent, v. 4128, lend.
leng, adv. comp. iii. 71, viii. 2055.
lengere, adv. comp. i. 1516, ii. 1434, 2602,
lenger, i. 147.
lengthe, s. iii. 1963, iv. 3255.
Leo (emperor), P. 739.
Leo (sign of the zodiac), vii. 1067 ff., 1249.
Leoncius, Leonce, vii. 3268 ff.
leonesse, s. iv. 1976.
Leonin, viii. 1410 ff.
leoun, leon, s. P. 1059, i. 2248, ii. 3035,
lyon, v. 5684.
lepard, s. iv. 1977.
lepe, v.n. iii. 916, vi. 187,
pret. lepte, i. 2051, ii. 2301,
imperat. lep, vii. 4782.
lepre, s. ii. 3192 ff., PP. 349, leprosy.
lere, liere, v. P. 868, i. 454, 2123, v. 2029, learn, teach.[Pg 603]
lere, s. i. 1509, viii. 610, loss.
lered, a. viii. 3113, learned.
lerne, v.a.n. i. 44, 2010, ii. 1851, iii. 601, v. 3852, 6836, vii. 3146: teach, inform, learn.
lerned, a. vii. 635, PP. 25.
les, s. v. 782, vii. 2684, falsehood.
Lesbon, v. 6436.
lese, v.a.n. P. 415, i. 1332, 1809, ii. 32,
3 s.pres. lest, ii. 256, iv. 1494,
pret. les, vi. 1772, vii. 3658; lose.
lesinge, lesynge, s. i. 679, 2268, ii. 409,
pl. lesinges, v. 946, lying.
lesse, see lasse.
lest, v.imperat. i. 827, 1876, listen.
lest, v. see list.
lest, a. i. 3249,
def. leste, vii. 1459;
ate leste, i. 277, 3259; least.
lest, adv. i. 1070, 2362,
leste, i. 3296.
let, s. see lette.
lete, v.a.n. i. 6, 3366, ii. 2253, iii. 2664, iv. 643,
3 s.pres. let, P. 509, ii. 1906,
leteth, vii. 390,
3 s.pret. let, P. 1020, i. 1011, ii. 2480, v. 5840,
imperat. let, lett, i. 220, 1618, 2834,
lete, vi. 450,
pp. lete, P. 440, ii. 3228 (shed), iv. 454;
let make, let do, &c., P. 1020, i. 1011, iv. 490,
lete by, v. 1004 (valued),
cp. v. 5840: leave, release, omit, let, cause.
Lethes, Lethen, iv. 3011, v. 1109.
lette, v.a.n. i. 38, 780, ii. 94, iii. 1873, 2213, iv. 795, 1481,
pret. lette, ii. 2240,
pp. let, P. 308, ii. 128, iii. 2044; hinder, delay, put off.
lette, s. ii. 93, 2129, iii. 2298, iv. 2000,
let, v. 3900, vii. 2779, hindrance.
lettre, s. P. 209, i. 2423, ii. 3038, iv. 2401, letter, writing.
lettyng, s. vii. 236, hindrance.
Leuchotoe, v. 6726.
leve, s. i. 857, 1162, 1469, 1807, ii. 113, iv. 1160,
token leve, i. 1162,
cp. ii. 2780, iv. 1381: leave.
leve(n), v.a.n. P. 404, i. 1311, 1558, 1808, 2693, 2940, iii. 1179, iv. 1159, viii. 2881,
leeveth, iv. 3428,
pret. lefte, P. 743, i. 1673, v. 2389,
lafte, PP. 342,
pp. laft, v. 4056,
left, v. 4222,
imperat. lef, ii. 571, v. 5223; leave, leave off, omit.
leve, v.n. P. 412, iv. 1382,
pret. lefte(n), P. 695, vii. 3682, remain.
leveful, see lieffull.
levein, s. iii. 446, leaven.
levene, s. vi. 2267, flash (of lightning).
levere, a.comp. P. 37, ii. 6,
hath (hadde) l., i. 1511, ii. 1582, iii. 479,
were l., ii. 530, iii. 762, iv. 1657:
as subst. ii. 2449, v. 546:
adv. iv. 1337: dearer, rather:
cp. lief, lievest.
levest, see lievest.
lewed, a. i. 274, ii. 3423, iii. 479, unlearned, ignorant.
leyhe, see lawhe.
leyt, leyte, s. vii. 303, 308, flame.
leyte, v.n. vii. 307, blaze.
liberal, a. vii. 876.
liberalite, s. v. 7646.
liberte, s. vii. 2815.
Libra, vii. 1102 ff., 1258.
libraire, s. P. 321.
lich, s. viii. 1076, corpse.
lich, liche, a. P. 113, 634, ii. 3245, iv. 3649, v. 1550,
lych, v. 29;
lik, i. 488, ii. 1794, v. 615:
adv. lich, P. 951, i. 2672, ii. 3033, 3456,
lik, i. 1950.
Lichaon, Lichao, v. 6225, 6298, vii. 3355.
liche, s. i. 2277, 2791, iii. 2588, v. 7318,
like, lyke, i. 2315, 2995, 3139, ii. 3037; likeness, match.
Lichomede, v. 2976 ff.
Lichorida, Lychoride, viii. 1033, 1350.
licke, v.a. vi. 928, 1015.
licuchis, vii. 824 (name of a stone).
Liddos, vii. 4369.
lie, s. see lye.
lie, lye, v.n. P. 124, i. 725, 1512, 2437, ii. 1603, iii. 1252, speak falsely.
Lie, viii. 125, Leah.
lie, v.n.,
3 s.pres. lith, lyth, P. 336, i. 161, 2429,
3 s.pret. lay, lai, P. 602, i. 1788, 2728,
3 pl. lihe, lyhen, ii. 1456, vii. 1797,
leie(n), iv. 479, v. 974,
2 s.pret. subj. leye, iv. 2849,
imperat. ly, vi. 2311,
pp. leie, iv. 2914, lein, vii. 2597; lie, be situated:
cp. ligge.
lief, a. ii. 209, vii. 4628,
lief ... loth, i. 1627, ii. 999, iv. 669,
lieve ... lothe, ii. 3229, iv. 778,
def. as subst. lieve, iii. 1901,
pl. ii. 3395,
voc. lieve, iv. 1702, dear, pleasant:
cp. levere, lievest.
lief, s. i. 1203, ii. 2449, 2486, loved one.
lieffull, a. iii. 2208,
leveful, v. 7053, lawful.
liegance, ligeance, ligance, s. P. 25*, iii. 1822, v. 2673, vii. 2698, allegiance, rule.
liege, a. P. 27*, i. 2075, ii. 2762, iv. 201,
(lige, viii. 3024),
pl. here oghne liege, iii. 1760.
liege, s. iii. 1767, iv. 1904, vii. 3094, 4177,
(lige, viii. 2995*), subject.
lien, s. iii. 242, bond.[Pg 604]
lieutenant, s. i. 947, ii. 1319.
lieve, v.a.n. i. 44, 727, 1063, ii. 471, iii. 1315, believe, trust:
god lieve, vii. 3069, God grant.
lievest, a.superl. ii. 329, iv. 1501, v. 186,
levest, PP. 30:
adv. i. 1608:
cp. lief.
lif, s. P. 96, i. 36, 1477, ii. 1225, v. 2297,
genit. lyves, lives, i. 1821, 2685,
pl. lyves, iv. 2353, viii. 81;
to lyve, ii. 1525,
on lyve, v. 7102,
al my lyve, iii. 886,
a lyves creature, iv. 382: life, person.
lifissh, a. v. 4920, vii. 257, living.
liflode, s. v. 4961, vi. 798, livelihood.
lifte, s. ii. 3488, sky.
ligance, see liegance.
Ligdus, iv. 451.
lige, see liege.
ligge, v.n. ii. 1138, iv. 2132,
pres. part. liggende, i. 885, ii. 839,
ligende, i. 2346.
lignage, s. i. 3335, ii. 2849,
pl. lignages, v. 1600, vii. 4117, descent, tribe.
Ligurgius, iv. 738, vii. 2918 ff., 3058.
liht, s. see lyht.
liht, a. (1) see lyht.
liht, lyht, a. (2), i. 3078, iii. 518,
(light, PP. 218),
pl. lyhte, v. 831;
comp. lihtere, v. 4692: light, easy.
lihte, v.a. iv. 258, kindle.
lihte, v.n. v. 7072,
3 s.pres. liht, v. 1580,
pret. lihte, i. 2310, vii. 3273*, alight.
lihtly (-li), lyhtly, adv. i. 1063, ii. 2085, iv. 538, viii. 2776,
(lightly, PP. 220),
lihtliche, i. 2650, easily.
lik, see lich.
like, lyke, s. see liche.
like, lyke, v.n.impers., i. 70, 652, 756, 950, iii. 634, iv. 1182, 2150,
lyketh, v. 7079, vii. 522;
pers. ii. 1377, viii. 378,
lyke, P. 21, vii. 2298;
likende, viii. 2476,
is to like, iv. 2419: please, be pleased, like.
liking(e), likynge, s. i. 496, 1709, iv. 1868, v. 649, 7737,
pl. likinges, vi. 1214, pleasure.
likinge, a. iii. 186, v. 3840, pleasant.
liklihiede, s. v. 596, comparison.
likned, pp. ii. 2118, viii. 2155, compared.
liknesse, s. P. 908, i. 370, iv. 2109, viii. 2601.
lilie, s. as a. vii. 4678, of lilies.
lime, v.a. ii. 574, besmear (with birdlime).
lime, s. iv. 275,
pl. limes, lemes, v. 1476, vii. 3201, limb.
linde, s. i. 2304, iv. 1341.
line, lyne, s. iv. 2623, v. 1082, 4054, viii. 105.
lippe, s. i. 1683, iii. 119, iv. 386.
liquour, s. viii. 1199.
lisse, v.a. iii. 1361, vi. 2419, vii. 5401, relieve;
v.n. vi. 311, give relief.
list, v.impers. i. 1403, 1822, iii. 1110, iv. 907,
lest, i. 37, 1922,
lusteth, v. 2577,
pres. subj. liste, v. 505,
pret. (ind. or subj.) liste, i. 932, 1984,
leste, i. 720, vi. 357,
list, iii. 2446, please:
pers. i. 2741, iii. 1
(if thou lest), 111, iv. 3147, viii. 486,
(lust, P. 85*), like, desire.
lite, see lyte.
litel, a. P. 957, i. 357, ii. 1151:
adv. i. 615, iv. 2617,
alitel, iv. 1339.
lith, s. i. 1691, limb.
live(n), v.n. P. 171, i. 127, 189, 1710, ii. 1723,
lyve, iv. 1930.
livere, s. vii. 457 ff., liver.
livinge, lyvynge, s. v. 1615, vii. 1657, 1934.
Livius (Virginius), vii. 5136, 5204.
lo, interj. P. 234, 918.
lock, s. iv. 2879, v. 6621,
lokes (pl.), v. 6632, lock (of a door).
lockes, s.pl. i. 1685, viii. 2403, locks (of hair).
lode, s. v. 4962, load.
lodesman, s. iii. 996, helmsman.
loenge, loange, s. iv. 1548, vii. 3924, viii. 3027*, PP. 371, praise.
lofte, s. vii. 300, height.
logged, loged, pp. v. 2114, 6659, lodged.
logginge, s. vi. 1817.
logique (-qe), s. vii. 1528 ff., viii. 2709.
lok, s. i. 122, 2313, ii. 1350, look, gaze.
loke(n), v.n. P. 328, 449, i. 1686, 2811, 2992, ii. 3075, v. 624,
(lokyn, viii. 3029),
imperat. lok, i. 1225,
loke, i. 1703, v. 1220, look, take care, keep watch;
v.a. P. 52*, ii. 733, vi. 1959 ff., examine, watch.
loke(n), v.a.pp. ii. 358, 1868, 1996, v. 33, shut up.
lokes, see lock.
lokinge, lokynge, s. i. 680, 1785, iii. 763, looking, sight.
lollardie, s. P. 349, v. 1807, 1819.
lomb, s. i. 604, vii. 4983.
Lombard, Lumbard, P. 207, 778, vi. 857,
pl. Lombardz, Lombars, Lombardes, P. 772 ff., i. 2459, ii. 2101 ff.
Lombardie, P. 755, i. 2461, vii. 800.[Pg 605]
lond, s. P. 123, 959
(gen. londis, viii. 3053),
pl. londes, P. 501;
to londe, i. 1170, ii. 1828, v. 18, 4899,
into londe, i. 3288,
of londe, i. 2240,
in londe, iii. 1818,
be londe, iv. 1627,
out of londe, iii. 878,
over londe, v. 923,
fro the londe, ii. 179.
londe, v.n. ii. 2545, iv. 736, 1927.
londflodes, s.pl. vii. 1235.
lone, s. v. 4697, loan.
long, a. P. 55, i. 2870,
def. longe, i. 171, ii. 817.
longe, adv. P. 62, i. 1645, iii. 1888, iv. 943, 1490, 1782,
long, v. 1086, vii. 4999;
comp. (no) longer, ii. 1038:
long on, see along.
longe, v.n. (1), ii. 1424, v. 7030, desire:
impers. iii. 2760, v. 2526, 3688.
longe, v.n. (2), P. 80, i. 254, 1480, v. 972, vii. 1064,
(3 s.pres. longith, viii. 3079), belong.
lope, s. iii. 916, leap.
lord, s. P. 86, i. 816,
ha lord, v. 2397,
pl. lordes, i. 2032, v. 7332,
(lordis, viii. 3129).
lorde, v.n. ii. 3267, be lord.
lordschipe, s. i. 2959, ii. 1484.
lore, s. P. 19, 323, i. 1338, 2665,
pl. lores, i. 2768, vii. 23, teaching, learning.
lore, pp. i. 974, 2008, iii. 188, lost:
cp. lose.
lorer, s. iii. 1716, laurel.
loresman, s. v. 1005, teacher.
los, s. iii. 2144, v. 996, 5334, fame.
los, a.,
def. lose, i. 2660, loose.
lose, v.a. v. 697, vii. 1592, set free:
pret. loste, P. 686, i. 3304,
lost, ii. 2290, v. 3465,
pp. lost, P. 44, i. 1742, lose:
cp. lese.
lost, s. P. 762, i. 3106, ii. 2348, iv. 1485, loss.
lot, s. v. 5309, vii. 1337.
Loth, viii. 227.
loth, a. i. 2876, ii. 962, iv. 1186,
pl. lothe, i. 2282, v. 4277,
lief ... loth, i. 1203, ii. 999, 2227,
lieve ... lothe, ii. 3229, iv. 778, v. 770,
hem thoghte lothe, iv. 1041: unwilling, unpleasing, hateful.
lothe, v.a. v. 4650, vii. 3274, hate, make hateful;
v.n. v. 5767, vii. 3724, be hateful.
lothly, a. i. 1530, v. 647, vi. 2199;
sup. the lothlieste, i. 1676.
loude, see lowde.
lourde, a. v. 657, clumsy.
loure, v.n. i. 172, ii. 245, iii. 30, v. 479, frown.
loute, v.n. i. 720, 2333, iii. 127, iv. 1169, bow, yield (to):
cp. lute.
love, s. P. 75, i. 811, 1863,
genit. loves, i. 689, ii. 188, iii. 131,
love drinke, vi. 333; love, loved one.
love(n) (1), v.a.n. P. 389, 1050, i. 752, 1936, ii. 502.
love (2), v.n. v. 7048, (luff), steer.
loveday, s. P. 1047.
lovedrunke, s. vi. 111, 307, love drunkenness.
loveles, a. ii. 2961, v. 2505.
lovere, s. iv. 554,
pl. lovers, i. 673, ii. 237.
low, lou, a. i. 2256, iv. 3521,
lowe, iii. 606, vii. 740,
pl. lowe, P. 924;
superl. the lowest, vii. 224.
low, lowh, v.,
see lawhe.
lowde, loude, a.pl. i. 2808, ii. 309, iv. 3064:
adv. iii. 452, v. 5673.
lowe, adv. i. 718, 1066, iv. 1004;
sup. lowest, i. 704.
lowe, v.a.n. iv. 1273, viii. 587, lower, go lower.
Lowis (emperor), P. 777.
Lowyz (king of France), ii. 2966.
Lubie, vi. 410, 1922,
Lubye, vi. 2069.
luce, s. v. 2015, pike.
Lucie, ii. 905, Lucius.
Lucifer, i. 3299, v. 1701, viii. 10,
genit. Luciferes, viii. 22.
Lucius (1), v. 7124* ff.
Lucius (2), vii. 3946.
lucre, s. i. 1706, iii. 2360, iv. 2590.
Lucrece, vii. 4809, 4985 ff., viii. 2632.
lugge, v.a. vii. 1893.
Lumbard, see Lombard.
lunge, s. vii. 452, 465.
lure, s. iv. 285.
lurke, v.n. v. 6746.
lust, s. P. 19, 230, i. 443, 754, ii. 1109,
pl. lustes, i. 778, 1241, 2517, iv. 1318; pleasure, desire, charm.
lust, v. see list.
lusti, lusty, a. P. 937, i. 317, 1581, 2167, 2306, pleasant.
lustles, a. ii. 2024, iv. 3262, 3455.
lute, s. viii. 2679.
lute, v.n. i. 1933, lurk:
cp. loute.
luxure, s. vii. 4561, lust.
lye, v. see lie.
lye, lie, s. P. 504, iii. 895, dregs.
lyht, liht, s. i. 633, 1168, ii. 836, iii. 920,
be lyhte, v. 6517,
pl. lyhtes, iv. 3221, light.
lyht, liht, a. (1) P. 941, i. 2176, vi. 1982, vii. 956,
pl. lihte, iii. 783, bright.[Pg 606]
lyht, a. (2), see liht.
lyhte, adv. v. 4076, brightly.
lyhthnynge, s. viii. 1000, lightning.
lyke, see liche.
lym, s. v. 7233, vi. 1594, lime, (mortar).
lyn, s. iv. 2437, v. 1203, flax.
lyne, see line.
lyon, see leoun.
lyte, a. ii. 429, v. 6627,
as subst. a lyte, a lite, i. 264, 2687, ii. 2045,
(often in MSS. alite, alyte, as i. 2687, ii. 2045, vii. 4092);
to lite, iii. 581, see tolite.
lyvynge, see livinge.
M
ma dame, i. 168, iv. 1374.
macched, pp. v. 5422.
mace, s. v. 6865, viii. 2507.
Macedoyne, Macedoine, ii. 1616, iii. 2451, vi. 1809, vii. 3211*;
as a. ii. 1840.
Macer, vi. 1408.
Machabeu, PP. 282.
Machaire, iii. 146 ff., viii. 2588.
macon, s. vii. 2427, mason.
madd, mad, a. i. 130, v. 496, 5891.
Madian, vii. 3710.
madle, a. as subst. iv. 1301, vii. 4215, male.
mageste, see majeste.
magicien, s. v. 3084, vi. 1337.
magique, s. iv. 2077, vi. 1402;
a. v. 3947, vi. 1434.
magnefie, magnifie, v.a. P. 44, 886, i. 2998, ii. 2827, iv. 2608.
mai, v. see mowe.
maide(n), mayde(n), i. 2481, 2573 ff. 3327, v. 3476,
a maide child, viii. 1058,
pl. maidenes, iv. 255, maidens, iv. 1464, 1575:
cp. may.
maidehiede, s. v. 6384.
maidenhod(e), maidenhiede (-hede), maydenhiede (-hede), s. iv. 1566, 1585, v. 3068, 6181, 6219, vii. 5145,
maidenhed, v. 6769.
Maii, i. 100, 2026, vii. 1045,
May, vii. 2276,
genit. Maies, i. 2089, May.
maile, s. v. 3111.
main, s. vi. 90, strength.
maintenue, s. viii. 3012, maintenance.
maintiene, v.a. i. 3285,
meintiene, iv. 3433,
maintene, PP. 385.
maister, s. i. 35, 1260, ii. 1134, v. 56,
pl. maistres, v. 434.
maistred, v.a.pp. iv. 3518.
maistrefull, a. iii. 212.
maistresse, s. i. 1825, iii. 170, viii. 2331.
maistrie, s. iii. 1566, 2768, vi. 2341, vii. 1398,
pl. maistries, v. 2061, mastery, great deed.
majeste, mageste, s. ii. 1058, v. 1510, 1737.
majorane, s. vii. 1433.
make, s. (1), i. 101, 2088, iii. 2612, v. 4275, mate, match.
make, s. (2), v. 2296, fashion.
make(n), v.a. P. 23, 155, viii. 3143,
2, 3, s.pres. makst, makth, i. 774, iv. 2844,
pret. made, P. 207, 816, ii. 858, 1265,
mad, ii. 310, v. 3822,
pp. mad, P. 347, i. 2427,
(maad, viii. 3110),
made (pl.), P. 300,
maked, v. 680.
makere, s. ii. 916, vii. 1508.
makinge, makyng(e), s. v. 1022, 1203, viii. 3089*, 3154, making, composing (poetry).
maladie, maladye, s. i. 128, ii. 9, 3221, viii. 2642.
male, s. iv. 546, wallet.
Malebouche, ii. 389.
malencolie, s. P. 1069, iii. 27 ff., vii. 402.
malencolien, a. iii. 33, 241.
malencolious, a. iii. 87.
malengin, s. v. 344, evil device.
malgracious, a. v. 647.
malgre, s. v. 6481, 6946, ill-will:
adv. i. 789, 1329, in spite of the will;
malgre myn, iv. 59,
m. hem, iv. 1233, cp. vi. 524.
malice, s. P. 62*, i. 605, vii. 939.
malicious, a. iii. 1634, vii. 2852.
man, s. P. 21, iii. 1249 ff.,
genit. mannes, P. 14, i. 2412,
(mannys, viii. 2975),
to manne, iii. 1967, viii. 308,
pl. men, P. 12, 167, i. 768,
genit. mennes, i. 1995; man, servant.
manace, s. i. 1598, iii. 1832.
manace, v.a.n. iii. 1525, 1533, vi. 1680.
Manachaz, Manachas, vii. 1801 ff.
mandement, s. viii. 1819, command.
Mane, v. 7023.
manere, s. P. 362, i. 793, iv. 1281,
such a maner wise, &c., P. 83*, i. 1086, 1360, iii. 1072,
cp. i. 1977,
in manere, vii. 2132, 4344, PP. 53.
Manes, pl. v. 1363.
manfull, a. vii. 2881.
manhod(e), s. P. 260, ii. 1639, 2514, iii. 1964,
manhiede, manhed(e), i. 1212, 3044, iv. 325, 2033; man’s nature, manliness, race of men.[Pg 607]
mankinde, s. ii. 3108, iv. 2443.
manlich, a. vii. 5093.
manna, s. v. 1673.
manneskinde, s. v. 4110.
mannyssh, a. vi. 1528.
manslawhte, s. iii. 2544,
(manslaghtre, PP. 171).
mantel, mantell, s. v. 3557, 4201, 6890, vii. 4524, 5067.
many, mani, a.sing. P. 857, ii. 89, 447, iv. 1619,
many a, P. 75, i. 1958,
manye an, vii. 2191, many (manye) on, v. 5302,
pl. manye, manie, P. 299, 672, i. 2530, iv. 1629,
many, v. 2904, 4015, 5147;
as subst. manye, i. 3238, v. 4001.
manyfold, adv. iii. 1702, 1952, iv. 125,
be manyfold, v. 1778.
manyon, pron. i. 416, 655, 2441,
pl. manion, ii. 1272:
cp. many.
mappemounde, s. vii. 530.
marbre, s. iv. 3666 ff., v. 2035.
Marc, vi. 474.
March, v. 5968, vii. 1008,
Marche, viii. 2843,
Mars, viii. 2852, March.
marchandie, s. ii. 600, vii. 917.
marchant, s. v. 952, 2689, vii. 1687.
marche, s. P. 720, i. 1417, ii. 2521 ff., vii. 555, PP. 291, border, territory.
Marche, see March.
marche, v.n. iv. 2987, border.
Marchus Claudius, vii. 5167 ff.
mareschall, mareschal, s. viii. 714, 2662.
mariage, s. i. 1763, ii. 625, v. 1260.
Marie, i. 3278, v. 1782*.
maried, pp. v. 509.
marked, pp. vii. 1144.
market (place), s. v. 1535, vii. 5101.
marrement, s. vii. 3310*, trouble.
marrubium, vii. 1343, (name of a herb).
Mars (1), Mart, Marte, v. 651 ff., 883 ff., 1215, 1477, 3506, 6150;
(the planet) iv. 2470, vii. 889 ff., 992, 1136, 1314, 1323, 1360, 1374, 1389, 1411.
Mars (2), see March.
Marsagete, vii. 3444.
martire, s. PP. 341.
mased, a. vi. 132.
Masphat, iv. 1533.
masse, see messe.
mast, s. i. 1068, viii. 617.
mat, a. iii. 114, vi. 34, 730, weak, dejected.
mathematique, vii. 72, 145 ff., 623.
matiere, s. P. 6, 984, iv. 565, v. 572, matter, cause.
matins, s. v. 7111.
matrimoine, s. i. 1777.
matrone, s. i. 1657.
may, v. see mowe.
may, s. iv. 30, v. 3438:
cp. maide.
mayde, see maide.
Maximin, vii. 2766.
me, pron. P. 30*, i. 117, 567, me, myself.
mea culpa, i. 661.
mechanique, s. vii. 1693.
mecherie, see micherie.
mechil, see mochel.
mede, s. i. 795, 1554, ii. 2727, v. 4720,
meede, v. 7133*, vii. 129.
Mede, vii. 4335, 5313.
Medee, Medea, iii. 2559, v. 2539, 3241, 3368 ff., 4361, viii. 2563.
medicine, s. i. 30, 167, ii. 3203, medicine, healing.
meditacioun, s. ii. 2876.
medle, v.a. i. 1709, 3014,
pp. medled, P. 858,
medlid, iv. 1475;
v.n. vii. 1586: mingle.
Meduse, Medusa, i. 401 ff., 551.
medwe, s. v. 4151, 5964.
meedful, a. viii. 3105*.
meel, s. vi. 720, meal.
meene, see mene.
meete, see mete.
Megaster, vii. 1455.
meind, see meynd.
meintiene, see maintiene.
meke, mieke, a. v. 2472, 5396, vii. 916.
meke, v.refl. i. 866, v. 7386, submit.
meknesse, s. i. 126, ii. 1486.
melk, s. v. 4048.
melle, v.n. v. 2833,
cp. medle.
melled, a. vii. 4899, mingled.
melodie, s. i. 494, v. 1030.
melte, v.n. iv. 1057,
pret. malt, iv. 1065.
membre, s. P. 153, v. 1457, PP. 164.
memoire, s. P. 1002, i. 1775, ii. 1421.
memorial, s. iv. 532, 563, 2042, memory.
memorial, a. viii. 3026*, 3105, remembered.
men, indef. pron. sing. ii. 659, v. 5510, viii. 2926, people.
menable, a. i. 1067, ii. 1123, iii. 390, vii. 2762:
see note on i. 1067.
menage, s. v. 4809.
Menander (1), iv. 109.
Menander (2), iv. 2409.
mencioun, s. ii. 428, iii. 739.
mende, see mynde.
mene, meene, v.a.n. i. 15, 280, 926, 1210, ii. 2465, iii. 2761, iv. 1859,
pret.[Pg 608]
mente, P. 667, 1024,
minte, vii. 5043; mean, intend, speak.
mene, meene, a. v. 3895, 5330.
mene, s. v. 6542.
Menelay, iii. 2136, v. 3072, viii. 2547.
Menesteüs, iii. 2145.
meninge, s. ii. 1599,
menynge, vii. 4837.
menstral, s. vii. 2423.
menstre, s. v. 7059, minster.
mercerie, s. ii. 3059.
merci, mercy, s. i. 1832, 1902, 1936, iii. 222, thanks, mercy.
merciable, a. iii. 1514, iv. 3426, vii. 3276, merciful.
Mercurial, a. vii. 1357.
Mercurie, Mercurius, i. 422 ff., iv. 2053, 3332 ff., v. 938, 1399, 1465, 7411, vii. 2967, 3056;
(the planet) iv. 2474, vii. 757 ff., 1087, 1156, 1382, 1421, 1427.
merel, s. P. 430, vii. 3266, lot.
merie, merye, a. i. 2081, 2734, iv. 504, v. 6128:
adv. v. 3779.
merite, s. P. 301, v. 4893,
merit, v. 1725.
meritoire, a. P. 465.
merthe, s. i. 2531, iv. 3149,
pl. merthes, i. 102, vii. 4799.
merveile, merveille, v.n. ii. 774, 1347, iv. 1266, vi. 171,
mervaile, i. 2226;
impers. v. 4481, vi. 385.
merveile, merveille, s. i. 3234, iii. 1422, vii. 3998,
merveilles (pl.), v. 309, iv. 2059,
mervaile, mervaille, iv. 1480, vii. 2456.
merveiled, a. v. 2060, filled with wonder.
merveilous, a. iv. 2990, v. 5292.
meschief, s. P. 150, ii. 1029, iii. 2387,
(meschef, PP. 111),
mischief, iii. 137.
meschieved, pp. iv. 15.
mescreance, s. v. 1444, vi. 2366.
mescreantz, s.pl. PP. 268.
Mese, iii. 2645, iv. 3516.
message, s. i. 834, ii. 816, iii. 255, message, embassy.
messager, s. ii. 943, v. 1185, vii. 4681,
messagier, i. 2505;
fem. messagere, iv. 2972.
messe, masse, s. i. 660, iv. 1133, v. 7037, 7111.
mestier, s. vii. 1692, occupation.
mesure, s. P. 1056, 1080, i. 2402, iv. 3305, viii. 768.
mesure, v.a. iv. 3306, v. 7638.
metall, metal, s. P. 735, iv. 2449 ff.
Metamor, Methamor, i. 389, v. 6711.
mete, s. P. 475, i. 812, 2843, ii. 1363, iii. 183, meat.
mete, meete, miete, v.a.n. (1), i. 2599, ii. 457, iii. 52, iv. 2902, v. 5584,
pret. mette, P. 42*, i. 85,
pp. met, iv. 2094, meet.
mete, meete, v.a.n. (2), iii. 51, iv. 2901,
pret. mette, iv. 2910, 3065, vi. 1980, dream.
mete, meete, a. and adv. ii. 458, vii. 2899, fit, fitly.
Methamor, see Metamor.
Metodre, viii. 48.
metre, s. iv. 2414.
metrede, s. vi. 2003, dream.
meynd, meind, a. P. 615, v. 2311, 4049, mingled.
mi, min, see my.
Micene, Micenes, iii. 2039, 2081.
Micheas, vii. 2595 ff.,
Michee, vii. 2667.
micherie, mecherie, s. v. 6296, 6495, 6754, 6944, thievishness.
michinge, s. v. 6525, thieving.
midday, s. iv. 3273.
middel, a. P. 17, v. 7691, viii. 720.
middel, s. iv. 1356, vi. 786, vii. 1058, waist, middle.
middelerthe, middilerthe, s. i. 3305, vii. 287.
Mide, Myde, v. 153 ff., 412.
midmorwe, s. viii. 666.
midnyht, s. ii. 2891.
mieke, a. see meke.
miele, s. vi. 590, bowl.
miete, see mete.
miht, mihte, v. see mowe.
miht, s. see myht.
milde, mylde, a. P. 1058, i. 915, ii. 1056, vi. 1918, viii. 1030.
mile, myle, s. ii. 1474, a ten mile, iv. 1707,
thritty mile, v. 2036, (of time) iv. 689, viii. 2312.
milion, s. v. 2613.
minde, see mynde.
mine, s. see myn.
mineral, s. iv. 2559.
minerall, a. iv. 2552.
Minerve, s. i. 1120, 1147, v. 1189, 1460, 1831, 7413, vii. 1922, 1933.
ministre, v.n. i. 808;
v.a. vii. 1030.
ministres, s.pl. i. 583.
Minotaurus, Minotaure, iv. 1043, v. 5277, 5291 ff.
minte, see mene.
minut, mynut, s. iv. 241, 642, vi. 2257.
mir, see myr.
miracle, s. iv. 522, 3661, vii. 662.
mirour, s. P. 496, iii. 1076, v. 2033, viii. 2821.
mirre, s. i. 1705.[Pg 609]
mis, mys, s. i. 3311, vi. 2359, wrong.
mis, mys, adv. i. 2403, ii. 559, vii. 5429, amiss.
misbegat, v.a.pret. vi. 2357.
misbelieve, s. ii. 1569, v. 833, 1593.
misbelieved, (pp.) a. v. 739.
misbere, v.refl. vii. 5279, misbehave (oneself).
misbore, pp. ii. 971.
miscaste, v.a. iii. 110.
mischief, see meschief.
misconte, v.n. i. 3112.
misdede, s. iii. 1931, 2614.
misdespended, v.a.pp. i. 298.
misdo, v.a.n. i. 3443,
pret. misdede, iii. 227,
pp. misdo, i. 2385, ii. 3513.
miselve(n), miself, pron. i. 62, 192, 556,
myselve, iv. 853,
(my self, viii. 2958).
misericorde, s. iii. 2628, 2712, vii. 3303.
misfalle, v.n.,
pret. misfell, vi. 2362.
misfare, v.n. ii. 694, iv. 3387,
pret. misferde, iv. 3602, vii. 4437,
pp. misferd, ii. 2432, go wrong, transgress.
misgete, v.a.pp. viii. 243.
misgovernance, s. ii. 2965, v. 693.
misguide, v.a. viii. 2920.
mishandlinge, s. v. 1869.
mishap(p), s. iii. 814, vi. 2358.
mishappe, v.n. iv. 304, vii. 4916, fare ill, unfortunately happen.
mislede, v.a. vii. 1678, 4310.
misledere, s. ii. 3021.
mislike, v.n. v. 7054, be displeasing.
mislok, s. i. 334.
misloke, v.n. i. 418, sin in looking.
mislokynge, s. i. 445.
mispaie, v.a. iii. 648,
pp. mispaid, mispaied, ii. 549, viii. 1582, displease.
mispeche, s. ii. 545.
mispeke, v.a.n. ii. 535, 548, 2008, iii. 562, speak amiss.
misreule, v.a. vii. 2508, viii. 2114.
misse, v.n. iii. 1362, viii. 2229, fail;
v.a. vi. 312,
pret. miste, iv. 836, lose.
misserve, v.a. vii. 3933.
misseye, v.n. P. 480, say amiss.
missit, v.n. 3 s.pres. v. 5213, is unfitting.
mist, myst, s. v. 1866, vii. 281.
mistake, v.a. iv. 1001.
misteppe, v.n. v. 473, go wrong.
misthrowe, v.a. i. 549.
mistime, v.a. i. 220, iii. 2458, viii. 196,
mystyme, vi. 4, disorder, bring about wrongly.
mistorne, v.a.n. P. 957, i. 427, v. 6304, vii. 4468.
mistriste, v.n. i. 3165.
mistrowinge, s. vi. 1643.
mistrust, s. ii. 53.
misuse, v.a. P. 521, v. 4538.
miswende, v.a.n. iii. 1548,
pret. miswente, vi. 2361,
pp. miswent, P. 517, i. 395, v. 5288.
Mitelene, viii. 1405, 1610, 1917.
mitre, s. ii. 2936.
mo, a.pl. i. 922, 1272, iv. 1357:
cp. nomo.
Moab, viii. 235.
Moabite, vii. 4503, viii. 241.
moche, a. i. 224;
as subst. to moche, iii. 581,
cp. tomoche:
for als moche, i. 272,
cp. vi. 349.
mochel, a. P. 342, i. 1568, iii. 1619,
(mochil, mechil, viii. 3040, 3046);
adv. i. 1412, 1983, ii. 2251, iii. 908.
mod, s. ii. 2734, iv. 1280, PP. 101, mood, mind.
modefie, modifie, v.a. vii. 2153, 4210, 5379, limit.
moder, s. P. 852, ii. 644, vii. 4731,
(modir, PP. 106, 241),
genit. moder, iii. 313, 2175,
pl. modres, ii. 3223.
moderhed(e), s. ii. 1073, v. 5893.
moerdre, s. ii. 3293, iii. 1883, murder.
moerdre, v.a. iii. 1935 ff., viii. 1382, murder.
moerdrer, s. viii. 1958.
moerdrice, s. iii. 2003, viii. 1958, murderess.
moeve(n), v.a. ii. 190, 1379;
v.n. iii. 1273, vii. 677: move.
moevement, s. vii. 674.
Moïses, P. 306, iii. 2254, v. 1656, 1682, 6967, vi. 1092, vii. 1475, 3054, PP. 187,
Moises, iv. 648.
moist(e), s. P. 977, vii. 271, 379, 445, moisture.
moiste, moyste, a. ii. 3123, vii. 413, 1061 ff.,
moist, vii. 1287.
moisture, s. vii. 730.
molde, s. i. 1607, ii. 1737, iv. 1844, vii. 5017, earth;
iv. 1112, fashion.
Moloch, vii. 4509.
moltoun, s. P. 1060, sheep.
monarchie, s. P. 673, i. 763.
mone, s. (1), i. 2180, 3143, ii. 703, iii. 556, moan, lament.
mone, s. (2), P. 142, 484, i. 1168, v. 1447, vii. 721 ff., moon.
mone, s. (3), i. 1634, companion.
moneie, monoie, s. iv. 2448, v. 11, 610, 1834, 4377, money.
monelyht, s. vii. 733.[Pg 610]
monkes, s.genit. iv. 2732.
monstre, s. i. 404, v. 1091, 5275.
mont, s. ii. 3350, 3378,
pl. montz, P. 755, iv. 1952.
montaine, montaigne, monteine, s. iii. 365, v. 1048, 1288, 1331.
montance, s. viii. 2312, amount.
monthe, s. i. 100, 2026,
pl. monthes, iv. 2960,
a monthe (tuo monthe) day, iv. 776, 2955.
mor (1), s. iv. 2786, moor.
mor (2), see more.
Moral, P. 945, (Gregory’s) Moralia.
moral, a. iv. 2321, v. 1852, viii. 2925.
More, i. 1686, Moor.
more, a. P. 158, v. 5889;
as subst. P. 20, 324, 762,
mor, ii. 996, iv. 1650;
cp. mo:
adv. P. 640, i. 1263, iv. 122,
mor, i. 1951, 2703, ii. 1736,
the more, P. 55*, i. 2322,
more yit (moreover), iv. 2446.
more, v.a. v. 1614, vii. 1841, 4846, increase.
morgage, s. vii. 4228.
Morien, iv. 2609.
Moris, ii. 937, 975, 1365 ff.
Morpheüs, iv. 3039, 3057.
morscel, s. vi. 6,
morsell, viii. 195.
mortalite, s. PP. 284.
mortiel, a. iii. 1532, 2027.
morwe, s. i. 2169, 2852, ii. 2713, iii. 2616,
be the m., v. 3415,
a morwe, ii. 781;
as a. iv. 1829.
morwetyde, s. iii. 1221.
most, a.superl. i. 1194, 2074,
def. moste, ii. 46, iii. 2678, iv. 959, greatest, chief:
adv. most, P. 120, ii. 2336, v. 233,
moste, i. 307, v. 3103.
mote, v.n. viii. 640, 1,
3 s.pres. mot, P. 650, i. 1296, 2102,
mote, vii. 3536, 3604 ff., viii. 255,
2 s. most, ii. 206,
pl. mote(n), P. 698, ii. 3225, iii. 1030,
pret. moste,
(as pres.) P. 525, 646, i. 261, 1333, 2700, v. 526,
(as pret.) P. 729, i. 2309,
pres. subj. (expressing a wish), mot, mote, P. 92, 340, i. 2878, 3347: must, may.
mote, s. ii. 576.
mounte, monte, v.n. i. 3065, iv. 1061.
mous, s. iii. 1643, vii. 3572.
mowe, s. iv. 900, v. 1926, grimace.
mowe, v.n.inf. iv. 38,
mow, ii. 1670,
1, 3 s.pres. mai, may, P. 21, 249, i. 174, 689, 987, 1545, vii. 111, 4144,
2 s. miht, myht, i. 247, 710, 2242, ii. 2085,
(myght, PP. 97),
2 pl. mow ye, iv. 2788,
3 pl. mow, v. 6768,
pret. mihte, myhte, P. 203, 728, i. 1412, 2261, 2332, vii. 5062,
(myghte, viii. 3048, PP. 76),
miht, iii. 1356,
myht, PP. 39,
myhte ... to, ii. 510,
cp. vii. 437, be able (to), have power, (may, might).
mowe, v.a. ii. 2375, reap.
mowth, mouth, s. i. 1275, ii. 431,
to mowthe, to mouthe, be mowthe, i. 1642, 2433, ii. 485, vii. 5285,
pl. mouthes, v. 3609, vii. 2653.
muable, a. P. 581, v. 444, viii. 585, changing, easily moved.
mue, s. iii. 1412, cage.
muk, s. v. 4855.
mule, s. ii. 1506, vi. 1835.
mull, s. v. 2310, rubbish.
multeplie, multiplie, v.a.n. iv. 2460, v. 133, 1651, 6423, viii. 29, increase.
multiplicacioun (-on), s. iv. 2573, vii. 159, viii. 86.
multitude, s. ii. 1810, v. 2201.
Mundus, i. 783.
murmur, s. i. 1345.
muse, v.n. i. 3091, iii. 75, 1219, vii. 4270, reflect, gaze.
Muse, s. viii. 3074*, 3140.
musette, s. viii. 2677, (a musical instrument).
musike, musiqe, musique, s. i. 497, iv. 2416, 3335, vii. 150.
musinge, s. vi. 126.
must, vii. 1165.
my, mi, myn, min, poss. pron. P. 63, 85, i. 2, 74 ff.,
pl. my, myn, min, i. 228, iii. 60, iv. 3219;
disj. myn, i. 950, iii. 896,
pl. myne, vii. 2333*:
al myn one, i. 115, see one.
mydnyht, a. v. 3961.
myht, miht, s. P. 655, i. 2848, ii. 1155, vii. 2120,
pl. mihtes, myhtes, i. 2917, iii. 1112,
(myghtes, viii. 3065).
myht, myhte,
v. mowe.
myhtely, adv. vii. 242.
myhti(-y), mihty, mihti, a. P. 378, i. 940, 2792, 3013, ii. 1639,
(myghti, mighti, PP. 41, 293);
sup. myhtiest,
def. myhtieste, P. 736, i. 1098, vii. 1826.
mylde, see milde.
myle, see mile.
myn, pron. see my.
myn, s. v. 86, 2155,
myne, mine, iv. 2455, 2553, mine.
mynde, minde, s. P. 93, i. 918, 1618, ii. 2226, v. 5726, viii. 1559,
mende, iv. 643, 1961, vii. 1200, mind, memory, mention.
myne, v.n. v. 2121, mine.
myne, s. see myn.[Pg 611]
Mynitor, v. 897.
Mynos, v. 5231 ff.
mynour, s. v. 2121, miner.
mynut, see minut.
myr, ii. 1974, iii. 1631, iv. 2723,
mir, i. 683, mire.
mys, see mis.
mysbefalle, v.impers. i. 459.
mysdrawe, pp. P. 430, wrongly drawn.
myst, see mist.
mystyme, see mistime.
myswreynt, pp. v. 1869, wrongly twisted.
myte, s. v. 4412.
N
Nabal, vii. 4530.
nabeith (= ne abeith), vi. 1378.
Nabugodonosor, P. 595, i. 2786, v. 7018.
Nabuzardan, v. 7013.
Nachaie, vi. 1660.
nacion (-oun), s. i. 394, iv. 1451, viii. 85, 91, kind, race.
nagher(e), adv. ii. 1244, 1260, v. 6240, nowhere:
cp. nowher.
naght, see noght.
Naiades, v. 1334.
naked, a. i. 363, 1781, iii. 248 &c.,
nakid, ii. 709, iii. 1429, iv. 403,
def. nakede, iv. 421.
nam (= ne am), i. 743, 2751.
nam, v.a.pret. i. 1738, ii. 1438, iii. 1447,
nom, P. 758,
pp. nome, P. 982, i. 443, 901, 3264, took, taken:
thurgh nome, v. 3635, penetrated.
name, s. P. 99, 294, i. 806, 2096, name, honour.
name, v.a. P. 87, i. 3394, iii. 1599, iv. 2477,
pret. namede, iv. 468.
namely, adv. P. 144, iii. 63, 2633,
namly, ii. 47,
nameliche, i. 2370, v. 6345,
namliche, iv. 1449, especially.
Namplus, iii. 1002 ff.,
cp. Nauplus.
naproche (= ne aproche), iv. 1135.
Narcizus, i. 2285,
Narcise, viii. 2542.
nargh, a. i. 1685, narrow.
nase, s. i. 1678, iv. 2544, vii. 3273, nose.
nassote (= ne assote), vii. 4254.
natheles, P. 36, i. 21, 988, vii. 3877, nevertheless, moreover.
nativite, s. i. 392, iv. 2764.
nature, s. ii. 1376, iii. 175, 350 ff., viii. 2224 ff.,
pl. natures, vii. 108.
nature, v.a. vii. 393, fashion.
naturel, a. i. 1498, iii. 2581, iv. 2399, vii. 1301.
naturien, s. vi. 1338, vii. 649, 1471, follower of natural magic.
Nauplus, iv. 1816 ff.,
cp. Namplus.
navele, s. i. 489.
navie, s. i. 528, 1171, iv. 80, vi. 1445,
navye, ii. 1128.
nawher(e), see nowher.
nay, adv. P. 373, i. 740, iii. 55.
nayled, pp. vii. 2900.
ne, adv. i. 733, iii. 936, iv. 2855,
ne ... no, P. 179, i. 159, 792,
ne ... noght, i. 166, iii. 570,
that ... ne, P. 990, i. 788, 2093,
ne ... bot, i. 264,
non ... ne, iv. 1400;
ne (= nor), i. 25, 794, 1082,
ne ... ne, viii. 2451,
noght ... ne noght ne, i. 2722:
ne hadde he (if he had not), iv. 2184,
ne hadde be that, vi. 1755,
that I nere, that he ne were, (O that I were, &c.), iv. 3414, v. 3747.
Neabole, v. 1435.
necessaire, a. vii. 1504.
necessite, s. P. 797, vii. 1704.
necgligence, negligence, s. iv. 889 ff.
necgligent, a. iv. 962, 1031.
necke, s. P. 605, i. 1687.
Nectanabus, v. 6671, vi. 1796 ff., vii. 1296.
neddre, s. vii. 1010, adder:
cp. eddre.
nede, s. P. 227, i. 1988, 2239,
ned, iv. 3449,
pl. nedes, ii. 3414;
ate nede, iii. 1772,
mot nede, nedes mot, moste nedes, &c., P. 574, i. 1714, ii. 778, iii. 352.
nedeles, a. i. 3267, without need (of help).
nedeth, needeth, v.n. 3 s.pres. P. 800, i. 2446, iii. 1311, viii. 2245;
impers. P. 33, i. 283, ii. 1897, 3364: is necessary, (it) is needful.
nedle, s. vi. 559,
nedle and ston, vi. 1422, viii. 541.
nedly, adv. iv. 1168.
nedy, a. v. 7757.
negligence, see necgligence.
neisshe, see neysshe.
Nembrot, Nembroth, P. 1018, v. 1547, vii. 1452.
Neptunus, Neptune, i. 1152, ii. 180, v. 983 ff., 1146, 6162 ff., vi. 1406, viii. 623, 1595, 1614.
nere (= ne were), iv. 3414.
Nereïdes, v. 1345.
Nero, vi. 1155 ff.
nerr, a. and adv. comp. i. 2323, iii. 1040, iv. 1705, vii. 312,
ner, ii. 2286, v. 5050;
as prep. iii. 694: nearer.
Nessus, ii. 2168 ff.[Pg 612]
nest, s. iv. 1669.
nest, adv. see next.
Nestor, iii. 1801 ff.
net, s. iii. 183, iv. 2428.
netherdes, s.pl. v. 1006, neatherds.
netle, s. ii. 401.
Neuma Pompilius, vii. 3057.
nevere, adv. P. 660, i. 1532, 2324.
neveremo, adv. iv. 2266,
neveremor(e), v. 2813, 4474,
nevermor, ii. 1304.
nevoeu, s. i. 1409, nephew.
newe, a. P. 349, 659, i. 2083,
as subst. P. 1003, i. 1202;
of newe, P. 6,
uppon newe, PP. 315.
newe, adv. P. 163, i. 1665.
newe, v.a. P. 92*, i. 2700, vi. 1497, renew, produce;
v.n. P. 59, viii. 1587, change.
newefongel, a. v. 4367.
newefot, s. vi. 145, (name of a dance).
next, adv. i. 256, 1230, 1964,
nest, vii. 1075.
nexte, a.def. ii. 3149.
neyhe, v.n. v. 3782, draw near.
neysshe, neisshe, a. iv. 3681, v. 4693, soft.
nice, see nyce.
Nicolas, ii. 2809.
Nigargorus, v. 1521.
nigromaunce, s. v. 6673, vi. 1308.
niht, see nyht.
Nil, vii. 561.
nimphe, s. i. 365, 2317,
pl. nimphes, i. 2343, v. 1182, 1328 ff.,
nimphis, v. 6932.
Ninus, v. 1541.
nis (= ne is), i. 618, 3382,
nys, i. 443, ii. 2946.
no, a. P. 106, i. 152,
no thing, iii. 1824:
cp. non.
no, adv. i. 712, ii. 1931, iv. 2746,
no lengere, v. 5082.
noble, a. P. 633, i. 3351;
sup. noblest, i. 465.
nobleie, s. i. 2032, vii. 813.
nobles, s.pl. v. 3758, vii. 2376.
noblesce, noblesse, i. 2100, ii. 2820, v. 7648.
Noë, P. 1015, v. 1605, vii. 542, 1452, viii. 79, 84.
noght, s. P. 624, i. 2197,
(nought, viii. 3078),
at noght, i. 1567, 1896,
for n., ii. 2696,
al to n., iii. 580,
as n. ne were, iv. 696, 1925,
for n. he preide &c., ii. 1164, 2974,
al to noghtes, vii. 412.
noght, adv. P. 124, 221, 270 &c.,
nought, P. 33, 70*,
naght, v. 3786,
not, vii. 2198, viii. 3017*.
noghwhere, see nowher.
noise, s. i. 375, 1733,
noyse, ii. 3239.
noise, v.a. iv. 3004, disturb.
nolde (= ne wolde), vi. 1366, viii. 1603.
nom, see nam.
noman, P. 41, i. 21 &c.,
(no man, PP. 11).
nomaner, iii. 173.
nombre, s. vii. 155, number.
nombre, v.a. ii. 1769, vii. 1122.
nome, see nam.
nomo, s.pl. i. 1898, ii. 133,
no mo, i. 1272.
nomore, nomor, a. ii. 1526, iv. 603:
subst. i. 270, 1605, 3439;
cp. nomo:
adv. P. 1086, i. 1226, 2101.
non, a. P. 207, 901, i. 890, iv. 505, 1543,
pl. none, P. 201, iv. 691, 1446,
non, i. 1336, 1386;
in none wise, v. 1637, viii. 949;
cp. no:
pron. P. 176, ii. 1828, no one:
adv. i. 137, 1329, iii. 2443, not.
non, s. viii. 668, noon.
Nonarcigne, v. 1009.
noncertein, s. viii. 2179, 2378, uncertainty.
nones, i. 2538, ii. 1130, iv. 1353, 3009.
nonne, s. viii. 175, nun.
norrice, s. i. 618, ii. 1076, iii. 1936, iv. 1087, vii. 3573, nurse, nurture.
north, s. viii. 1039.
Northumberlond, ii. 717.
not (= ne wot), P. 254, i. 56, iii. 124,
nost (= ne wost), iv. 1779,
nyste (= ne wyste), i. 914, iii. 998.
not, adv. see noght.
note, s. (1), P. 1058, iv. 434, 699,
pl. notes, i. 496, note (of music), mark.
note, s. (2), iv. 566, nut.
note, v.a.n. iv. 698, 2415, v. 1346, vii. 2340.
notefie, v.a. ii. 2825.
notetre, s. iv. 867, nut-tree.
nother, see nouther.
nothing, s. i. 909, ii. 1166 &c.,
no thing, iii. 1834:
adv. P. 214, i. 3029 &c.
nouche, s. i. 2420, v. 7066, vi. 1134, brooch.
nought, see noght.
noughte (= ne oughte), viii. 2991.
nouther, nowther, a. iv. 2254;
as conj. i. 271, 2470, ii. 1412, v. 2849,
nother, iv. 1268: neither.
novellerie, s. v. 3955.
Novembre, vii. 1167.
now, nou, adv. P. 27 &c.,
now ... now, nou ... nou, P. 569 f., i. 90,
as now, i. 546,
tyme now, i. 2379, viii. 2437,
on daies nou, iv. 1731 (cp. now adaies):
as subst. P. 843, iv. 2772, v. 4501.[Pg 613]
nowher, adv. ii. 31,
noghwhere, vii. 1514,
nawher(e), iv. 1044, v. 3269:
cp. naghere.
nowhider, adv. v. 520.
nowther, see nouther.
nyce, nice, a. i. 1224, 2016, 2276, ii. 1866, iv. 610, v. 1038, 2818;
as subst. v. 4725: foolish, fastidious, delicate.
nycete, s. v. 462, vi. 176, folly.
nygard, s. v. 4850.
nygardie, s. v. 4805.
nyh, a. P. 261;
adv. P. 884, i. 1527;
prep. i. 2322, ii. 1115:
cp. nerr.
nyht, niht, s. P. 939, i. 1167, ii. 2656,
nyght, PP. 102,
gen. nyhtes, i. 860, vii. 358;
be nyhte, be nihte, i. 823, ii. 2681, iii. 148, iv. 420,
be nyht, iii. 1541, iv. 3057,
at nyht, i. 870,
on nyht, i. 1811,
a nyht, v. 2099, 6507,
to nyht, i. 944.
nyhte, v.n. v. 4955, become night.
nyhtingale, s. i. 355, iv. 2872, v. 5944.
nyle (= ne wyle), iii. 961.
nyne, num. iii. 1521, v. 4019.
nynthe, a. vii. 1141, 1379.
nys, see nis.
nyste, see not.
O
O, interj. i. 124, v. 5677.
o, pron.a. i. 1505, v. 2252, 2296,
that o, P. 981, v. 2255,
that o ... that other, v. 2306 ff.,
cp. on pron.
obedience, s. i. 1301, 1858.
obedient, a. i. 1291, iv. 1125.
obeie, v.a.n. P. 729, i. 510, 1269, 1281, 2236, ii. 2612, v. 6364;
refl. iii. 265;
is obeied (to), ii. 1529: obey, submit, do obeisance.
obeissance, s. P. 107, i. 2606, viii. 2713,
(obeyssaunce, viii. 3021*), obedience, homage.
obeissant, a. i. 2502, 2795, iv. 425, v. 1351, obedient.
oblivion, s. iv. 651.
observance, s. i. 881, 1869, 2605.
observe, v.a. P. 72*, iv. 3252, vii. 4214.
obstacle, s. ii. 1546, iv. 521.
obstinacie, s. iv. 3434.
obstinat, a. iv. 3442, v. 1704.
occeane, s. vii. 592.
occident, s. iv. 3235, vii. 582,
thoccident, P. 720, the West.
occupacioun (-on), s. iv. 212, 1257, v. 197.
Octobre, vii. 1139.
Octovien, v. 4731.
odde, a. vii. 1580.
Oënes, iv. 2045.
Oëtes, v. 3321.
of, prep. P. 1, 3, 235, i. 825, 1212, 2237, 2737, ii. 2285, iv. 3414, v. 1998, of, from, by reason of, as regards, by:
of that (= since), P. 333, i. 417, 1128, 2566;
of tolde, speke of, &c., i. 2866, iv. 2466:
adv. i. 1745, 2471, off.
offence, s. i. 2072, iii. 104, 614, iv. 505.
offende, v.n. P. 422;
v.a. vii. 3243, PP. 245.
office, s. P. 80, i. 2410, iii. 2004, 2218,
thoffice, i. 242.
officer, officier, s. i. 647, 2506.
offre, v.a. i. 1122, 1159;
v.n. iii. 1990.
offrende, s. i. 936, v. 1638, viii. 956,
offringe, iii. 1995, v. 830.
ofherkne, v.n. ii. 2007.
ofte, adv. P. 14, i. 620,
often, P. 502,
ofte sithes (time), i. 118, ii. 2015,
often times, v. 4777.
oftetime, adv. vi. 1248.
oghne, a. P. 86, i. 951 &c.,
oughne, i. 1948, v. 588,
owen, viii. 1248,
owne, viii. 2954*.
oght, s. P. 846, iv. 673, 1765, 3487,
ought, i. 1287, ii. 1930, iv. 1745,
auht, v. 6073:
adv. i. 549, ii. 274,
awht, i. 2770.
oghth, v. 3 s.pres. iii. 2474,
pret. oghte, i. 462, 2238, v. 4984,
oughte, v. 2607,
owhte, ii. 549,
thou oghtest, iv. 1794;
impers. ii. 2142, iii. 704, 1666: ought, owe, own.
oignement, s. v. 3596, viii. 2817.
oil, s. vii. 2194, 2584 (see note).
oile, s. see oyle.
old, a. P. 1003, i. 1072,
def. olde, i. 2693, 2696,
pl. olde, P. 7, i. 3390,
(as subst.), v. 3930;
of (be) olde ensample, iii. 782, 1683,
be olde tyde, v. 139:
cp. eldeste.
Olimpe, v. 3997.
Olimpias, vi. 1824, 1965.
olyve, s. v. 4142.
Omelie, v. 1901, Homilies.
on, prep. P. 28, 789, i. 350, 697, 1677, iv. 624, 1632;
adv. i. 1273: on, in.
on, num. P. 125, i. 194, 1274, 1793, one;
in on, P. 159, united;
in on, evere in on, P. 523, i. 1795, iii. 526, v. 375, in the same way, without ceasing;
on and on, i. 194, vi. 1315, one by one:[Pg 614]
pron. on, i. 2483, ii. 1217, 1247, iv. 605, 2050,
oon, ii. 1092, iv. 555, v. 519,
on ... other, P. 649, 968, i. 1496,
that on ... that other, i. 397, v. 2298,
on the ferste, &c., iv. 2606, vi. 1481, vii. 3092:
cp. one.
onde, s. i. 979, v. 3975, emotion, breath.
one, a. i. 2179, vii. 3619, 4161,
al one, P. 72, i. 351,
al myn one, &c., i. 115, iv. 833,
him one, viii. 634, single, alone.
ones, adv. i. 962, ii. 1490,
at ones, i. 2202, ii. 2301, iv. 2102.
only, onli, adv. P. 265, 719, i. 622, iv. 3202,
onlyche, onlich(e), i. 740, 1948, iii. 42.
onwrong (?), adv. P. 65*.
oon, see on, pron.
open, a. P. 34, 865, ii. 431, 776,
in open, i. 616,
leie open, v. 974.
openly, adv. P. 330, i. 2187,
openliche, i. 1035, ii. 918.
operacioun (-on), s. vii. 998, 1282.
opinioun (-on), s. i. 1990, ii. 3214, iii. 2114,
oppinion, P. 531, v. 1174.
opne, v.a. v. 3594, 5785.
oppose, v.a. i. 225, 880, 1276, 1601;
v.n. iii. 436, viii. 1712; question; ask questions.
opposit, s. iv. 3243.
oppresse, v.a. iii. 49, 2335, v. 889, 1806, vi. 568,
(pp. oppressid, viii. 3019).
or, conj. P. 215,
or ... or, P. 211, i. 740, either ... or,
or (that) ... or, iii. 1192, iv. 1093, whether ... or.
or, prep. see er.
Orace, vii. 3581,
cp. vi. 1513 marg.
Orayn, v. 806.
Orbis, vii. 613, 618, 687.
Orchamus, v. 6727.
ordeine, ordeigne, v.a. P. 379, i. 828, 1754, 2126, 2504, 3319, iv. 3624, appoint, arrange.
ordinal, s. vii. 969, arrangement.
ordinance, s. ii. 677, 1643, iii. 1787,
ordinaunce, iv. 3559, management, order.
ordre, s. i. 243, 1026, v. 890,
order, v. 6954,
pl. ordres, i. 608.
ore, s. ii. 1904, v. 3688, viii. 1401, oar.
Oreades, v. 1330.
orf, s. P. 410, cattle.
orient, s. i. 2789, iv. 3236, vii. 555,
thorient, P. 719.
original, a. v. 1767, vi. 1.
orped, a. i. 2590, iii. 2415, valiant.
Ortolan, iv. 2609.
Orus, v. 798.
oth, s. i. 985, 1487, iii. 55, 220, oath.
other, a. P. 264,
other wise, P. 463, i. 1048, 1615,
in othre wise, viii. 3054,
cp. otherwise, an other, i. 178,
another, P. 968,
an othre, i. 481,
non othre, viii. 2962,
that other, P. 373, i. 1783, ii. 1832 (the next),
thother, ii. 1740,
that othre, v. 3172,
pl. othre, P. 255, i. 1728, iv. 1184,
other, i. 116, iv. 1183,
thother, vii. 371:
as subst. P. 1024,
an other, i. 1500, iii. 179, vii. 4741, 5165,
an othre, i. 1496, ii. 511,
ech ... other, iv. 500,
eche (echon) ... othre, i. 2061, 2082,
pl. othre, P. 427, i. 810, 2074:
adv. i. 1760, otherwise.
othergate, adv. P. 440, iv. 2790.
otherwhile, adv. i. 2335 f., 2515, ii. 456, 1080, sometimes, any time.
otherwise, adv. P. 240, i. 1938,
of otherwise, ii. 2421:
cp. other.
Othes, P. 818.
Othrin, v. 3997.
oughne, see oghne.
ought, see oght.
oughte, see oghth.
oule, s. i. 1727, iii. 585, vi. 1450.
oultrage, s. P. 1080, ii. 2967, iii. 1775, vii. 1190.
oultreli, adv. vii. 4107, utterly.
oure, poss. pron. P. 5, i. 2062, iii. 1473,
our, v. 1860.
ourselve, pron. PP. 222,
cp. ousselve.
ous, pers. pron. P. 1, 5 &c.,
refl. P. 543,
(us, viii. 3110*), us.
ousselve, pron. P. 525,
ousself, iii. 2302, ourselves:
cp. ourselve.
out, see oute.
outake(n), outtake, pp. P. 136, vii. 264;
as prep. i. 3077, iv. 3459, v. 215: excepted, except.
outbreide, v.a.pret. iii. 800,
out breide, viii. 1377, drew out.
outdrowh, outdrouh, v.a.pret. iii. 1661, v. 3719, drew out.
oute, out, adv. P. 689, i. 1418, ii. 1887, 3240, iv. 2351, viii. 1377,
(as exclamation) v. 3910,
out of, P. 131, i. 933, &c.
outher, conj. see owther.
outher, indef.pron. v. 2836.
outtake, see outake.
outward, adv. P. 447, ii. 2201, v. 1996, 4399; outwardly, out.
outwith, a. viii. 2833, outwardly.[Pg 615]
over, prep. P. 755,
over this, P. 328,
(ovyr this, viii. 3005),
over that, P. 1017, besides,
cp. overthis, overthat;
over al, iii. 1945, throughout.
overal, adv. P. 119, i. 1713,
overall, iv. 2882, everywhere, throughout.
overblowe, v.n. v. 7828.
overcaste, v.a. P. 657, i. 1070, iii. 1010, 1136, 1354, v. 4603, viii. 1042, overthrow, upset, cover (with clouds).
overcome, v.a.,
3 s.pres. overcomth, iii. 619,
pret. overcom, P. 757,
overcam, v. 1093,
pp. overcome, P. 704, i. 970, v. 3745.
overforth, adv. P. 635.
overgilt, pp. viii. 569, gilded over.
overglad, i. 2713, iv. 678.
overgladed, pp. iii. 106.
overgo, v.n.,
3 s.pres. overgoth, iii. 102,
overgeth, iii. 1962,
pp. overgo(n), i. 3325, iv. 664, pass away:
v.a. iii. 576, 1488, viii. 182, 227, overcome.
overhaste, v.a. iii. 1675.
overhippe, v.a. v. 2004, leap over.
overladde, v.a.pret. iii. 2364,
pp. overlad, iv. 582, v. 2749, overcame, overcome.
overlein, pp. vii. 3930, oppressed.
overlippe, s. v. 376, upper lip.
overmo, overmor(e), adv. i. 2386, 3361, ii. 378, iii. 918,
(ovyrmore, viii. 3029), moreover.
overpasse, v.a. i. 517, 2402, ii. 2401, vii. 1839, 4075, pass over, pass by, avoid, surpass;
v.n. P. 630, i. 6, 2922, iii. 94, iv. 1134, pass away.
overrede, v.a.,
pret. overradde, ii. 956,
pp. overrad, iv. 207, read over.
overrenne, v.a.,
pret. overran, iii. 2445,
pp. overronne, i. 2478, iv. 2188, v. 6974, vi. 1059, vii. 862,
overrunne, viii. 100, overrun, conquer, pass, omit, transgress.
overscape, v.a. i. 2242, iii. 518, escape from.
overseie, pp. oversein,
v.a. ii. 1011, viii. 879, looked over.
oversein, overseie, a. v. 3190, viii. 2933, careless, imprudent.
overset, v.a.pp. i. 1953, v. 2707.
oversit, v.a. 3 s.pres. iii. 618,
pret. oversat, iv. 806, outstay.
overspradde, v.a.pret. v. 1653, 7114*, viii. 1012, 3002*.
overtake, v.a. v. 700,
pret. overtok, ii. 303,
pp. overtake, P. 135, ii. 2586, iii. 2098, iv. 3415, overtake, convict, ruin.
overthat, adv. P. 839, iii. 277, moreover;
cp. over.
overthis, adv. i. 448, 573, iv. 3698, moreover;
cp. over.
overthrowe, v.a. P. 139,
pret. overthrew, overthreu, vi. 1590, viii. 2704,
pl. overthrewe, vi. 2264, turn over, overthrow;
v.n. P. 969, i. 1886, 1962, ii. 252,
pret.subj. overthrewe, iii. 1630, be overthrown.
overtorne, v.a. iv. 1280, vi. 129, 1956,
(pp. ovyrturnyd, viii. 3145), turn over, overturn;
v.n. P. 958.
overtrowe, v.n. i. 2369.
overwende, v. iii. 1131, v. 1668, overturn, come over.
overwroth, a. iii. 579.
Ovide, i. 333, 386, 2274, ii. 106, 2297, iii. 361, 381, 736, iv. 1211, 2669 ff., 3317, v. 140, 635, 878, 4229, 5570, 6146, 6710, viii. 2266 ff., 2719.
owen, see oghne.
owther, outher, conj. i. 2309, iii. 847, iv. 938, either.
oxe, s. i. 2843, ii. 86, v. 10,
pl. oxen, v. 1023,
oxes, iv. 1835.
oyle, oile, s. iv. 257, viii. 1198, 2775, oil.
P
Paceole, v. 299.
pacience, s. ii. 2819, iii. 12, 1098.
pacient, a. iii. 706.
packe, s. v. 5516, 6094.
Pafagoine, iv. 2148 ff.
page, s. iv. 1192, foot-boy.
paie, v.a.n. iv. 1848, 3269, v. 2679,
3 s.p. paith, v. 4522,
paieth, v. 5513,
pret. payde, v. 1755,
pp. paid, payd, i. 2449, 3324, ii. 2217, iii. 934,
paied, i. 2984, please, pay, satisfy.
paiement, s. v. 5087, 5520.
paien, s. vii. 3246* ff.,
pl. paiens, vi. 1313, PP. 183, pagan.
paiene, payene, a. v. 1137, 1943,
paien, vii. 3222*, 4408, pagan.
paindemeine, s. vi. 620.
Palamades, iii. 1007, iv. 1817.
pale, a. i. 701, 982, ii. 1346.
paleis, s. P. 838, i. 2964, ii. 3231.
Palene, v. 1199.
Palladion, v. 1833 ff.[Pg 616]
Pallant, v. 1209.
Pallas, i. 420 ff., v. 1207 ff., 4219, 6149 ff.
palle, v.a.n. v. 5486, vi. 342, weaken, grow weak.
palle, s. v. 6680, covering.
Pan, v. 1007, viii. 2239, 2476.
panche, s. vi. 1000, belly.
Pandas, iv. 2410.
Pandion, v. 5556.
Pandulf, iv. 2408.
panne, s. i. 2472, iv. 2733.
Pantasilee, iv. 2139 ff., v. 2547,
Pantaselee, viii. 2527.
Panthasas, iv. 3049.
Pantheon, viii. 272.
papacie, s. P. 364, ii. 2895.
papal, a. ii. 2925.
papat, s. ii. 2833, papacy.
paper, s. iv. 198.
Paphos, iv. 435.
Paphus, iv. 434.
pappes, s.pl. iii. 2010, 2073.
par, prep. see per.
paradis, s. P. 1005, i. 3303, iv. 682, v. 1707, vi. 207,
paradys, i. 502.
parage, s. i. 3336, viii. 351, equal rank, rank.
parail, s. vii. 1038.
paramour, s. iv. 1269, 1470.
Parasie, v. 1011.
parconner, s. viii. 2535, partner.
pardoun, s. i. 2174, viii. 2896.
parfit, a. iii. 2496, v. 2032,
def. parfit, iv. 2522,
parfite, iv. 2624;
as subst. the parfit, iv. 2363, v. 1723:
adv. v. 1714.
parfitly, parfitli, adv. ii. 755, iv. 2497, v. 2136,
parfihtliche, v. 1732.
parforne, v.a. vii. 1373, viii. 2273, perform.
Paris, v. 7374 ff., viii. 2529.
park, s. i. 1566, iv. 1288.
parlement, s. ii. 1549, 2653, iii. 2130, v. 484.
part, s. P. 64, i. 321, 1376, ii. 174, 1447,
pl. pars, v. 4774,
partz, v. 7704.
parte, v.a. P. 170, 467, v. 73, divide, distribute:
v.n. ii. 1578, v. 131, 3639, 6175, 7582, part (from, with), depart, share.
parti, a. iii. 983, variegated.
parti, s. ii. 1740, v. 7341, part, party.
partie, s. P. 43, 792, 956, ii. 230, part, party:
stant partie, iii. 1160.
partinge, s. vii. 2008, division.
pas, pass, s. i. 1421, ii. 2205, v. 6090, pass, passage;
i. 2183, vi. 1197, pace, foot’s pace,
the grete pas, ii. 988, v. 3178, vii. 3283*,
(the) softe pas, ii. 1509, vii. 4970.
Pasiphe, v. 5279.
passage, s. ii. 1885, 2194, 2209, 3036, iv. 1902, passage, passing away.
passe(n), v.a. i. 332, 651, 1849, 2175, iv. 1666, viii. 2692, pass, pass through, pass over, surpass;
v.n. P. 689, i. 142, 499, 1534, 2247, ii. 944, 2810, iv. 2239, v. 5954, vii. 4762, pass, happen, pass away.
passible, a. v. 771, liable to suffer.
passioun (-on), s. P. 915, iii. 2721, vi. 169.
past, s. iii. 447, vi. 620, paste, pastry.
paste, s. v. 2407, pasty.
pasture, v.n. i. 2915.
paternoster, s. v. 7119.
path, s. v. 1990.
patriarch, s. v. 1635, vi. 1040,
pl. patriarkes, viii. 134.
patrimoine, s. P. 741.
Paul (Emilius), Paulus, ii. 1776 ff.
Pauline, i. 765 ff.
paved, pp. viii. 1855.
pay, s. vi. 1208, satisfaction.
payene, see paiene.
peine, s. P. 509, i. 1209, 1367, ii. 2586,
(peyne, viii. 3121),
pl. peines, i. 2900, punishment, pain:
do mi peine, &c., ii. 507, v. 658, endeavour.
peine, peyne, v.refl. iv. 414, viii. 2509, suffer, take pains;
peined, pp. i. 2916, ii. 26, troubled.
peinte, v.a. i. 284, 1346, 2729, ii. 2854, iv. 2138, PP. 329, paint, embellish.
peinture, s. vi. 1894.
peire, s. v. 5691,
p. of bedes, viii. 2904.
peis, s. vii. 3119, viii. 2380, weight.
peise, v.a. P. 540, i. 3377, iii. 2403;
v.n. v. 232, viii. 1169: weigh, feel by weight.
Pelage, ii. 1316.
Peleüs (1), iii. 2550.
Peleus (2), v. 3249 ff., 4187, Pelias.
pelote, s. v. 5349, ball.
pelrinage, s. i. 803, ii. 1315, iv. 1199.
penance, penaunce, s. P. 471, i. 1669, ii. 2316, viii. 477.
Peneie, v. 4006.
penne, s. iii. 271.
Penolope, iv. 152 ff., 1822, vi. 1471, viii. 2621.
penon, s. vi. 1650.
penonceal, s. viii. 988.
pensel, s. vi. 1553, 1733, pennon.
Pentapolim, viii. 658, 1966 ff.
peny, s. vii. 2125.[Pg 617]
per, par, prep. P. 42*, i. 1521, 2049, 2225, ii. 1644, iii. 2604, iv. 39, 964, 1101, 1239, v. 3351.
peraunter, adv. ii. 563, perchance.
perce, v.a. iii. 451, iv. 2881, 3030, v. 1678, pierce.
Perce, see Perse.
perceive, v.a. i. 471, 899;
v.n. v. 2086.
perdurable, a. vii. 520, viii. 2976, eternal.
perfeccioun, s. P. 436.
periferie, s. vii. 265 ff.
peril, s. P. 381, i. 1076, iii. 185.
perjurie, s. v. 3225, perjure, v. 7617.
perle, s. iv. 1313, v. 3015, vii. 4334.
perled, a. i. 2510.
pernable, a. viii. 2931.
Peronelle, i. 3396.
perpetuel, a. vii. 98.
perplexete, s. viii. 2190.
perrie, s. i. 2997, v. 7117*, vi. 1135, vii. 1397, precious stones, stone.
Perse (1), Perce, P. 678 ff., ii. 2548, 2629 ff., iii. 2312, vii. 1784, 3433 ff., 4366 ff., Persia.
Perse (2), see Perseüs (2).
Perse (3), ii. 1784 ff., (name of a dog).
Perseüs (1), i. 419.
Perseüs (2), Perse, ii. 1620, 1647 ff., (king of Macedon).
Persiens, pl. P. 697.
persone, s. P. 71, i. 840, ii. 1098, iv. 160.
pes, s. P. 109, i. 1103, iv. 2046, PP. 62,
pees, P. 1061, PP. 35, peace, protection.
pese, s. v. 4409, pea.
pestilence, s. P. 279, ii. 1648, v. 1070.
pet, s. i. 2981, v. 4945 ff.,
pitt, i. 1908,
pl. pettes, v. 1114, 4047,
puttes, v. 4043, pit.
Peter, i. 656, ii. 3335, 3478, v. 1871, 1904,
genit. Petres, P. 234, PP. 230.
Petornius, v. 1520.
Petro, i. 3395.
Phara, vii. 3697.
Pharao, v. 1654.
Phares, v. 7023.
Pharisee, P. 305.
Phebe, iv. 3254.
Phebus, iii. 783 ff., 1688 ff., iv. 979 ff., 3197, 3243 ff., v. 6447 ff., 6740 ff., vii. 4704 ff.,
Phebum (acc.), v. 6719.
Phedra, see Fedra.
phesant, s. vi. 2223.
Pheton, iv. 983 ff.
Philemenis, iv. 2151.
Philemon, iv. 2405.
Philen, v. 4251.
Philerem, v. 1163.
Philippe (1), Philipp, vi. 2112, 2221.
Philippe (2), ii. 1616.
philliberd, s. iv. 869, filbert.
Phillis, iv. 743, 866 ff., viii. 2554.
Philogeüs, vii. 857.
Philomene, v. 5561 ff., viii. 2583.
philosophie, s. iii. 1219, iv. 2399, vi. 1404.
philosophre, s. ii. 2674, iii. 1201, iv. 2453,
philisophre, v. 2080.
Philotenne, viii. 1337.
Phinees, vii. 4432.
phisicien, s. viii. 1164, 3156.
phisique, s. ii. 3163, iv. 2420, 3304, vi. 663, 1409, vii. 71, 135; medicine, treatment, physical science.
phisonomie, s. vi. 109.
phitonesse, s. iv. 1937, vi. 2387.
Phocus, iii. 2551.
Phoieus, s. iii. 2023 ff.
Phorceüs, i. 390.
Phyryns, v. 6372.
pich, s. v. 2176, 5349, viii. 1109, pitch.
Pictagoras, vi. 1410.
pie, s. iv. 3001, v. 1998, magpie.
piece, s. v. 1338,
al to pieces, iii. 465, 1048.
pier, s. i. 3337, iii. 1344, vii. 2461;
as a. i. 3365: peer, equal.
piereles, a. viii. 286, PP. 305.
pietous, a. vii. 3159, 3271, merciful.
pigne, s. v. 1010, pine.
pike, pyke, v.a.n. i. 698, 2568, iii. 500, iv. 2650, v. 6633, 6681, vii. 1590, 2282, pick, choose, assume.
pilage, s. v. 2071, 6172, vii. 2035, plunder, plundering.
pile(n), v.a.n. P. 401, iii. 2359, vii. 4053, plunder.
pilegrin, s. i. 2041, pilgrim.
Pileon, iv. 1980.
piler, s. iv. 2054, v. 1670, pillar.
pilour, s. iii. 2372, robber.
pilwe, s. i. 2986, iv. 3021, v. 540, pillow.
piment, see pyment.
pinacle, s. iv. 3662.
pipe, pype, s. iv. 3334, 3342, v. 1032, viii. 2675.
pipe, v.n. iv. 3343, v. 95, 1032.
pipinge, s. iv. 3345, viii. 2477.
Piramus, iii. 1376 ff., 1660, viii. 2543.
pire, v.n. vi. 818, peer.
piromance, s. vi. 1298, divination by fire.
Pirotoüs, vi. 489.
Pirrus, iv. 2161, v. 3195, viii. 2593.[Pg 618]
Piscis, vii. 1216,
Pisces, vii. 1253.
pitance, s. vi. 877, portion (of food).
pite, s. P. 320, i. 2203, ii. 3174, vii. 3107 ff.,
pitee, vii. 3177*, mercy, pity.
pitous, a. i. 122, 680, 979, vii. 3125.
pitously, adv. iii. 1663, iv. 3621,
pitousliche, iv. 2810.
pitousnesse, s. vii. 3526.
pitt, see pet.
place, s. i. 136, 1314, 1513,
a place, i. 2377, iv. 2451,
cp. aplace.
planemetrie, s. vii. 1469.
planete, s. iii. 1216, iv. 2467, v. 753, vii. 637 ff.
planisperie, s. vii. 1464.
plante, v.a. PP. 368.
planteine, s. vii. 1391.
plat, adv. i. 472, 1495, ii. 2047, vii. 4084, flatly, plainly.
plate, s. v. 3111, 7113*.
Plato, vi. 1404, viii. 2718.
plaunte, s. ii. 2370.
plede, v.n. vii. 2069.
pledour, s. ii. 3416.
ple, plee, s. ii. 3416, vii. 2068, plea.
pleie, v.n. i. 54, 348, 1764, 1854, 2031, v. 6786, vii. 2423,
pleye, P. 85*, viii. 3057*;
refl. i. 364, iii. 151;
v.a. iv. 904.
pleiefieres, s. pl. iv. 482.
pleigne, v.n. P. 183, 747, i. 999, ii. 446, 1650,
pleine, iv. 3180, complain.
pleignte, pleinte, s. i. 3026, ii. 293, iii.
1983, iv. 117, complaint.
plein, a. (1), iv. 1539, vii. 931,
def. pleine, i. 864, full.
plein, a. (2), P. 184, 408, i. 282, 736, vii. 2350, viii. 1982,
def. pleine, v. 5251,
pl. pleyne, viii. 3122, level, simple, plain, smooth.
plein, adv. i. 1490, 1656, ii. 1452, iv. 39, vii. 1594, fully, plainly.
pleine, plein, s. i. 113, 357, ii. 1498, v. 1287.
pleinly, pleinli, adv. P. 473, i. 127, ii. 1238, 2789,
pleinliche, i. 211, fully, plainly.
pleinte, see pleignte.
pleintif, a. iv. 154.
plenerliche, adv. P. 527, i. 1278,
plenerly, vii. 525, fully.
plente, s. P. 97, v. 2218.
plentivous, plentevous, a. v. 2147, vii. 931, abundant.
plesance, s. i. 882, 1499, 2617, ii. 1177.
plesant, a. i. 1503, v. 1295.
plese(n), v.a. P. 192, i. 1698, 3051, ii. 1450, v. 4761.
plesir, s. v. 501.
pley, s. P. 85*, vi. 1852, viii. 692.
pleye, see pleie.
pleyinge, s. viii. 3082*.
Pliades, vii. 1320.
plie, v.a. i. 578, 1249, ii. 3419,
plye, vii. 3871, bend;
v.n. i. 1779, iii. 871, iv. 3564, bend, submit;
ii. 3146, strive.
plight, s. vii. 4228, engagement.
plihte, plyhte (1), v.a. iii. 1508,
pret. plihte, plyhte, i. 822, ii. 1205,
pp. pliht, iv. 757, engage.
plihte (2), v.a.pret.,
to plihte, v. 850, tore in pieces.
plit, s. P. 57, 296, i. 989, 1663, 2579, ii. 692, v. 2031,
plyt, ii. 2980, condition, state of things, manner.
plover, s. vi. 943.
plowh, plouh, s. i. 1566, 3257, iii. 514, v. 3720,
plogh, iv. 2383, plough, ploughed land.
plowed, a. vii. 1162, of the plough.
plowman, s. ii. 3422.
Pluto, iv. 2851, v. 1104, 1146, 1290, 4052.
plye, see plie.
plyhte, see plihte.
pocock, s. v. 6498.
poeple, s. P. 107, i. 1193.
poesie, s. iv. 1038, 2668, v. 6806.
poete, s. i. 386, ii. 121, viii. 2719.
point, i. 73, 1229, iii. 308, viii. 2579 f.,
(poynt, vii. 3157*),
pl. pointz, i. 288, vii. 1706;
in the point as (as soon as), P. 268,
in p. to, ii. 1016,
in good p., ii. 2792,
cp. vii. 4654,
out of p., i. 1304: point, condition, manner.
pointure, s. vii. 1048, prick.
policed, pp. i. 2543, polished.
policie, s. iii. 459, vii. 1683, 1986, &c.
Poliphemus, Polipheme, ii. 107 ff.
Polixenen, iv. 1696,
Polixena, v. 7593, viii. 2593.
pomel, iii. 307, 1443.
pompe, s. P. 304, i. 2685, ii. 1773.
Pompeie, v. 5533, vii. 3215 ff.
Pompilius, see Neuma.
Pontsorge, ii. 3003.
pope, s. P. 371, 745, ii. 635, 2809 ff., PP. 383.
popi, s. iv. 3007, poppy.
por reposer, viii. 2907.
porchace, see pourchace.
pore, see povere.
porpartie, see pourpartie.
porpos, see pourpos.[Pg 619]
porsuite, see poursuite.
port, s. (1), i. 674, 3429, iv. 1187, v. 1426, viii. 2195, bearing, behaviour, kind.
port, s. (2), viii. 387, harbour.
porte, s. ii. 1114 ff., porthole.
porveaunce, see pourveance.
positif, a. P. 247, iii. 172.
possessioun (-on), s. P. 684, ii. 3480, v. 64, v. 1685.
pot, s. iii. 656, vii. 3742,
pl. pottes, P. 614, vi. 914.
potestat, s. iv. 3522.
poudre, see pouldre.
pouer, P. 144, i. 2892, ii. 928, iii. 1779,
(power, viii. 3062 ff.).
Poul, ii. 3335, 3478, v. 1910.
pouldre, poudre, s. P. 623, i. 2003, vii. 354, powder.
Poulins, iv. 2420.
pound, s. iv. 2591, v. 2719.
pourchace, pourchase, v.a. i. 816, iii. 1484, iv. 1996,
purchace, P. 129, viii. 3132,
porchace, v. 4684, procure, seek after;
v.n. i. 2157, ii. 3504, v. 2001, vi. 1944, endeavour, make gain, succeed.
pourchas, s. v. 6089, gain.
poure, v.a. iii. 679, v. 2222, pour.
pourpartie, s. i. 406, v. 7000,
porpartie, v. 1691, share.
pourpos, s. i. 642, 1178,
porpos, v. 3363.
pourpose, v.a.n. ii. 2528,
purpose, P. 53;
refl. v. 1988.
pourpre, s. vi. 990, purple.
pours, purs, s. ii. 2683 ff., v. 5093 ff., purse.
poursuiant, s. ii. 2552,
pl. poursuiantz, ii. 239, suitor.
poursuie, v.a. i. 946, iv. 2685,
poursewe, iv. 3453, pursue, attain to;
v.n. ii. 255, 2630, iii. 1673, vi. 2406, make pursuit, continue.
poursuite, porsuite, s. iv. 28, v. 4423.
pourtreie, v.a. vii. 4876.
pourtreture, s. iv. 2421, v. 757.
pourveance, s. P. 585, i. 1916, 2028, v. 926, 5539,
porveaunce, porveance, P. 188, v. 2674, providence, foresight, provision.
pourveie, v.a. i. 843, iv. 204,
pp. pourveid, v. 4021,
pourveied, vii. 1681;
v.n. ii. 1327;
impers. viii. 24: provide, ordain.
pourveour, s. v. 1997, procurer.
povere, a. P. 227, i. 2098, 3010,
pore, viii. 2411;
as subst. P. 317, vi. 1004;
superl. the povereste, iv. 2238.
poverte, s. P. 303, i. 1353, iv. 2219.
power, see pouer.
practique, s. iv. 2612, vii. 41, 1648 ff., method, moral science.
prance, v.n. vi. 1191.
preche(n), v.a. ii. 3433, iii. 2500, v. 3361 (admonish);
v.n. P. 231, i. 1277.
prechinge, s. v. 1906.
prechour, s. ii. 3356.
precious, a. v. 1549,
pl. preciouse, iv. 1354.
preferre, v.a. ii. 3073, 3254, iv. 1806, vii. 2824.
preie, s. iii. 1393, 2605, prey.
preie, v.a.n. P. 231, i. 804, 3195, iv. 369,
praie, ii. 1933, viii. 2998,
(preye, P. 31*, 66*),
prai (1 s.pres.) i. 220,
3 s.pres. preith, P. 748,
pret. preide, P. 600, i. 1549, ii. 1120, iv. 398, 1368,
preyde, iv. 192,
pp. preid, v. 4241,
imperat. prei, i. 2937, vi. 451; pray to, pray for, pray.
preiere, s. i. 794, iii. 135, iv. 172, 3231, prayer.
preise, v.a.n. P. 539, i. 2120, ii. 394, v. 231.
preisinge, s. ii. 407.
preiynge, s. vi. 426.
prelacie, s. P. 287, v. 1902.
prelat, s. P. 294, vii. 4246,
pl. prelatz, v. 1850, PP. 247.
prenostik, s. ii. 1793, presage.
preparacion, s. vii. 1429.
pres, press, presse, s. iv. 148, 2162, v. 4, 2440, 7253, viii. 904, 2751, crowd, eagerness:
in presse, iv. 2849, down below (cp. Chaucer, Troilus, i. 559).
presage, s. ii. 1790.
presence, s. i. 1635, 2071, ii. 757, v. 1069.
present, s. v. 4204,
in present, v. 3595,
pl. presens, vi. 1497, gift.
present, a. P. 587, ii. 1368.
presente, v.a. v. 1911, viii. 2307;
refl. v. 2093.
preserve, v.a. vii. 3856, viii. 1961.
press, presse, s. see pres.
presse, v.a. ii. 462, 1733;
v.n. viii. 2752.
prest, priest, s. i. 193 ff., iii. 2275, 2556,
pl. prestes, i. 810.
presthod(e), s. P. 259, viii. 2079.
presumpcioun, s. i. 1989.
pretoire, s. vii. 2847.
Priamus, iii. 975, 1890, v. 7226 ff., viii. 2523, 2592.[Pg 620]
pricke, s. P. 396, i. 3311, iii. 116.
pride, s. P. 224, i. 581 &c.
pride, pryde, v.refl. i. 2372, ii. 1811;
pp. prided, PP. 257.
prie, v.n. iv. 1176, v. 7078,
pryhe, v. 470.
priente, s. i. 555, vi. 2149, print.
prieve, see prove, proeve.
prike, v.a.n. i. 2036, iv. 997, vi. 1191, spur, ride.
prime, s. v. 3880.
primerole, s. vii. 1214, 1362, primrose.
prince, s. P. 45, ii. 633, iii. 1005.
prinche, v.n. v. 4854.
principal, a. i. 307, 581, iv. 2489, v. 1115;
as subst. iii. 1282, v. 1995, 6446,
in principal, vii. 29.
prioresse, s. v. 891.
pris, s. P. 42, i. 848, 1900, 2525, 2755, 3304, 3329, vii. 3966,
priss, vii. 4364, value, prize, fame, praise:
sette pris of, i. 3068, iii. 1454, iv. 908, value,
stonde in p., iv. 2632, v. 1708,
cp. ii. 278, be valued, be praised.
prisoner, s. iii. 2375, v. 7212, vii. 2374.
prisoun (-on), s. ii. 1854, iv. 1042 ff., v. 5734;
prisone, vii. 2630.
prive, pryve, v.a. vii. 3270, 4040, deprive.
prive, a. i. 815, 1738, ii. 2858, vii. 121,
privi, v. 7621,
(preve, PP. 128),
in prive, ii. 686; secret.
prively (-li), adv. i. 898, 2069, v. 2143,
privelich(e), ii. 1695, v. 1247.
privete, privite, s. i. 1660, ii. 1416, 1651,
pl. privetes, i. 2806.
privilege, privilegge, P. 103, v. 7173, vii. 1989,
(previlege, PP. 245).
probleme, s. i. 3071, viii. 1681.
procede, v.n. P. 405, 1025, iv. 1.
process, s. viii. 269.
processioun, s. i. 1140, v. 7560.
proclame, v.a. P. 88, ii. 3039, iv. 2478.
procurour, s. v. 2862.
prodegalite, s. v. 7645, vii. 2026.
proeve(n), prove(n), v.a.n. P. 556, 926, 948, i. 61, 758, 1851, iii. 2311,
prieve, vii. 126, try, prove, appear.
professed, pp. v. 890, 1805, viii. 1848, bound by vow.
professioun (-on), s. ii. 2383, viii. 1266.
profit, s. P. 295, ii. 348., iii. 2468, v. 188.
profitable, a. ii. 2201, PP. 300.
profite, v.n. iv. 2298, 2572.
profre, v.a.n. and refl. iii. 1988, iv. 1130,
3 s.pres. proferth, i. 1693,
profreth, i. 1772, v. 5322, 6923, offer.
profre, s. iii. 1989, v. 4745, offer.
progenie, s. ii. 592, iv. 2701.
Progne, v. 5559 ff., viii. 2583.
prolacioun (-on), s. ii. 2875, vii. 173, utterance.
prolificacion, iv. 3248, fruitfulness.
prologe, s. P. 66.
promission, s. v. 1686, promise.
Promotheüs, iv. 2422, v. 1523.
pronounce, v.a. ii. 391, v. 7321.
prophecie, s. P. 588, ii. 1857, iii. 764.
prophecie, v.a. v. 1167.
prophete, s. v. 1693, vi. 1093, vii. 2560.
prophetesse, s. ii. 1802.
proporcion, s. v. 2531, 7245.
propre, a. P. 258, 535, i. 3393, ii. 2365, iii. 2361, iv. 2543, proper, own, appropriate;
adv. vii. 4011, for (his) own part.
proprely (-li), adv. i. 299, ii. 289, v. 1328, vii. 1268,
properly, P. 947,
propreliche, iv. 5.
proprete, s. P. 929, ii. 2377, iii. 2326, v. 1336,
(proprite, PP. 326),
pl. propretes, i. 257, iii. 1225,
propretees, vii. 63.
Proserpine, Proserpina, iv. 2850, v. 1277, 4053.
prosperite, s. i. 2802, iv. 1213.
proteccioun, s. v. 2573, viii. 3040*.
Protheselai, iv. 1901.
Protheüs, v. 3082, 6672.
proud, a. P. 347, 712, v. 198,
def. proude, P. 222, i. 1980;
sup. proudest, i. 1996.
proudly, adv. i. 1912.
prouesse (-esce), P. 98, i. 1083, ii. 2589, iv. 2302.
prove, v. see proeve.
prove, s. ii. 1673,
prieve, ii. 2022, vi. 1924, trial.
Provence, ii. 3004.
provende, s. P. 210, prebend.
proverbe, s. P. 786, v. 6631, vi. 448, vii. 1961.
providence, s. ii. 1322, iv. 863, vii. 3941.
province, s. vii. 2770.
provisour, s. v. 2905.
prudence, s. iv. 2652, v. 2289.
prune, v.refl. vi. 2203, trim (oneself).
Prus, iv. 1630.
pryhe, see prie.
pryve, see prive, v.
Pseudo, v. 1879.
Puile, v. 2064 ff., 2646.[Pg 621]
puison, puyson, s. i. 2645, ii. 565, iii. 2457, vi. 2246, poison.
pulle, v.a. P. 400, ii. 1788,
imperat. pull, iv. 723.
purchace, see pourchace.
pure, a. P. 742, i. 1721, 1987, iii. 2214;
sup. the purest, P. 921; pure, mere, absolute.
pure, v.a. iv. 2555.
purefie, purifie, v.a. i. 1044, ii. 3460.
purgatoire, s. i. 1776, 2682.
purge, v.a. i. 1039.
purifie, see purefie.
purpose, see pourpose.
purs, see pours.
pusillamite, s. iv. 314, 707, vii. 3527.
put, s. see pet.
pute(n), v.a.inf. i. 462, ii. 1551, iii. 547, 2648, iv. 1641,
putte, iv. 2288,
put, i. 1578, 3213, ii. 93,
1 s.pres. put, i. 732, v. 2951,
3 s. put, i. 690, ii. 2493,
3 pl. pres. (subj.) putte, v. 608,
pret. putte, P. 1069, i. 2797,
pitte, viii. 2796,
put, P. 683, 693, 718, i. 1013, 1807,
putt (pl.), v. 7417,
imperat. sing. put, ii. 3154,
pl. putteth, ii. 1033.
pyke, see pike.
pyl, s. ii. 390, pile (as in the phrase ‘cross or pile’).
Pymaleon, iv. 372.
pyment, piment, s. vi. 218, 337.
pyne, s. v. 4020, pain.
Q
quake, v.n.,
pret. quok, qwok, iii. 258, vi. 2206.
qualite, s. P. 954.
quant, see tant.
quarel, s. v. 7239, bolt.
queene, queen, quen, see qwene.
queint, queynte, see quenche.
queinte, qweinte, a. i. 283, 2730, ii. 2853, iv. 2314, v. 4623, viii. 2687, cunning, curious, gentle.
queintise, s. i. 906, ii. 2403, cunning.
queintise, v.a. viii. 2472, adorn.
quelle, v.a. v. 5357, kill.
queme, see qweme.
quenche, v.a. ii. 1627, vi. 452,
pret. queynte, v. 3697,
pp. queint, queynt, ii. 1556, 1748, v. 2223.
querele, s. P. 277, i. 134, 1822, ii. 16, v. 2066,
querelle, ii. 2703, 2967, cause, quarrel, enterprise.
querele, v.n. vii. 3172*.
queste, s. v. 2878.
questioun (-on), s. i. 1013, 1460, 3098, iii. 2245, question, torture.
quik, quyk, qwik, a. v. 6774, vii. 2898, viii. 2451,
def. qwike, ii. 2779,
pl.s. qwike, ii. 3405, alive, living.
quikselver, s. iv. 2475.
quit, qwyt, a. i. 1664, ii. 691, iii. 1588, iv. 661,
pl. quyte, iii. 2577, free, unpunished.
quite, quyte, v.a. i. 3347, iii. 1608, v. 7184*, viii. 1255,
(qwiten, PP. 279),
pp. quit, iii. 2194, v. 7729; pay for, requite, acquit.
quod, v.pret. i. 183, 1273, 1557, 3183, said.
qwed, qued, s. iii. 1534, v. 3568, bad thing, villain.
qweinte, see queinte.
qweme, queme, v.a.n. ii. 197, iii. 902, v. 4366,
queeme, vii. 2312;
impers. iv. 746, 966: please, be pleasing.
qwene, qweene, s. i. 139, 1914, 2601,
queene, i. 132, queen, viii. 1896,
qwen, quen, v. 2543 ff.
qwik, see quik.
qwok, see quake.
qwyt, see quit.
R
racches, s.pl. v. 4388, hounds (hunting by scent).
Rachel, viii. 127.
rage, s. P. 1079, i. 2620, 2945, ii. 910, 1275,
pl. rages, vii. 3410.
rage, v.n. i. 1764, sport.
Rageman, s. viii. 2379, see note.
ragerie, s. v. 6258, sport.
Rages, vii. 5313.
ragged, a. v. 1509.
ragges, s.pl. i. 1723.
Raguel, vii. 5315.
raile, s. vi. 2201.
ramage, a. iii. 2430, wild.
Ramoth Galaath, vii. 2541.
rampe, v.n. vi. 2182, 2230, vii. 2573.
rancoun, s. v. 1755, vii. 3426.
rancour, iii. 2730, vii. 3443.
ransake, v.a. v. 6094.
rape, s. iii. 517, 1625, haste.[Pg 622]
rape, v.n. iii. 1678, hasten.
Raphael, vii. 5358, viii. 44.
rase, v.n. v. 4090, run swiftly.
rased, pp. iv. 580, erased.
rasour, as a. ii. 830.
rathere, adv. comp. i. 2748, ii. 503, iv. 2195, 2756,
rather, P. 88*, iv. 1619, sooner, rather;
superl. rathest, i. 27, iii. 2121.
rave, v.n. iii. 91, vii. 4109, be mad, rage.
raven, s. iii. 812, 2077.
Ravenne, i. 2638.
ravine, s. iii. 2433, v. 5507 ff., rapine, robbery by violence.
raviner, s. v. 5530, 5627.
ravisht, a. iv. 683.
Razel, vi. 1316.
Rea, v. 849.
real, a. i. 2924, v. 5551, vii. 2449, viii. 1526, royal.
reali (-y), adv. viii. 1563, 1747, royally.
realme, s. vii. 49, 646.
realte, s. i. 2063, vii. 3810, royalty.
Rebecke, viii. 115.
rebell, ii. 1718, rebellious.
rebelle, v.n. v. 2065.
rebuke, v.a. v. 689, vii. 2668.
recche, v.n. ii. 2344, v. 4402,
pret. rowhte, iv. 3547,
roghte, v. 6383, have care;
v.a., pret. roghte, vii. 3010, care for;
impers. ii. 252, v. 4702,
pret. roghte, ii. 2403, iii. 664, v. 938, be a care (to).
receite, receipte, s. vi. 290, vii. 991, receiving, receptacle.
receive, receyve, v.a. P. 178, i. 872, 1208, viii. 1974,
resceive, vii. 1819, viii. 1287.
recepcion, s. vi. 1962.
reclame, v.a. v. 4724, vii. 1843, viii. 54, 2721, call back (as a hawk), summon.
reclus, a. ii. 2817.
recomande, v.a. P. 29*, vi. 949.
reconcile, v.a. P. 185, v. 1743*,
reconsile, v. 1783, vii. 1578.
record, s. P. 122, i. 850, ii. 939, 1696, v. 3082, viii. 1518,
be (stonde) of r., i. 1116, 1632, 3363, iii. 2060.
recorde(n), v.a.n. P. 964, i. 481, ii. 106, 629, 892, iii. 1377, iv. 562, 1639, v. 3681, viii. 2204, remember, take note of, relate, repeat.
recovere, v.a. iii. 578, 1998, iv. 1485, v. 303, 6579;
v.n. v. 2429, 4420: get back, make good, help; prosper.
recoverir, s. ii. 3159, v. 228, 6195, remedy, expedient.
recreacioun (-on), s. vi. 638, vii. 477.
red, a. iv. 386,
def. rede, v. 1661, 4011,
pl. rede, ii. 402;
as subst. the rede, iv. 2571: red.
red, s. i. 108, 1563, 2146, ii. 116, 2065,
to rede, iii. 1771, vii. 3634; advice, counsel.
reddour, s. iii. 348, v. 4558, vii. 3151, harshness, strictness.
rede, v.a.n. P. 15, i. 2271, ii. 104,
pret. radde, v. 3693,
pp. rad, ii. 1045, iv. 571,
imperat. red, vii. 1596, read: P. 16, i. 914, 1294,
1 s.pres. rede, i. 78, 1396, red, vi. 1359,
pret. radde, iv. 1842, advise, decide.
rede, v.n. iv. 185, v. 5988, grow red.
redely (-li), redily, redyly, adv. P. 948, i. 1533, ii. 1221, v. 297, 366, 1601, 2239, 6462, 7836, easily, quickly, eagerly.
redi, redy, a. P. 424, i. 856, 2093, ii. 3444, iii. 83, v. 1036:
adv. iii. 449.
redinesse, s. iv. 2356.
redinge, s. vi. 878.
redresce, v.a. P. 486, i. 3417, ii. 2427,
redresse, ii. 1801, (pp. redressid, viii. 3020); set right, reform.
redy, see redi.
reforme, v.a. i. 3035, ii. 3404, iv. 2945, vii. 1538, restore.
refreche, v.a. vi. 710.
refte, v.a.pret. v. 5697, viii. 2517.
refus, s. viii. 686, refused.
refuse, v.a.n. P. 74*, i. 1015, iii. 76, 1195, iv. 1238, 1750,
(pp. refusid, viii. 2963), deny, refuse.
regalie, s. P. 103, i. 2959, ii. 1022, vii. 1684, royal estate, royalty.
regiment, s. ii. 1751, vii. 915, 1245, 1702, rule, government.
regioun, region, s. iv. 2939, v. 2599, 6032.
registre, s. vii. 19.
registred, v.a.pp. ii. 3031.
regne, s. P. 127, 579, ii. 2651.
regne(n), v.n. P. 32*, i. 2890, 3036, v. 3253,
(reigne, PP. 331), reign.
reguard, s. iv. 3520.
reguerdoned, v.a.pp. iii. 2716.
reguerdoun, s. v. 2368.
reherce, reherse, v.a. i. 584, 1637, ii. 1682, iv. 3029, declare, repeat.
rein, reyn, s. iii. 692, vii. 286, viii. 1592,
pl. reines, i. 2987, rain.
reinbowe, s. v. 1185.
reine, reyne, v.n. i. 2925, iii. 689;
v.a. v. 1672: rain.
reins, s.pl. viii. 2819, reins (of the body).[Pg 623]
reisshe, reysshe, s. ii. 42, v. 4694,
risshe, iv. 2853, rush.
rejoie, v.refl. vi. 208.
rekeninge, s. iii. 2283.
rekevere, v.refl. viii. 2129, recover:
cp. recovere.
rekne(n), v.n. iii. 64, vii. 1101.
relacion, s. vi. 2254, report.
reles, s. i. 1188, iii. 848, vi. 253, deliverance, release, power (?).
relesse, v.a. ii. 2904, 3322, iv. 1572, vii. 3005.
relief, s. vi. 640, satisfaction.
relieve, v.a. ii. 104, ii. 172, iii. 1316, 2636, v. 2135, 2628, vi. 678, raise up, assist, relieve, satisfy.
religioun (-on), s. i. 623, viii. 158, 1265, 1456.
remembrance, s. P. 69, i. 1060, 3392, ii. 1519, iii. 2558,
remembraunce, iv. 449, memory, mention.
remembre, v. i. 2682, vii. 1118, have memory, remember.
remenant, s. P. 963, i. 1184, 3016, 3294.
remene, v.a. i. 279, v. 6541, (bring back), apply.
remission, s. v. 4445.
remuable, a. vii. 4896, unstable.
remue, v.a. i. 1327; iii. 1165;
v.n. iii. 1411, v. 5646; move, remove.
Remus, v. 900.
rende, v.a.,
pret. rente, iii. 2072.
rendre, v.a. viii. 1253, deliver.
renegat, s. ii. 1093.
renes, s.pl. iv. 998, reins (for driving).
renne, v.n. P. 505, ii. 24, 401, 1972,
pret. ran, ii. 2296,
pl. ronne, i. 373,
runne, vii. 4869, viii. 750,
pp. runne, v. 6127.
renomed, a. i. 2653.
renomee, s. iv. 1250.
renoun, s. iii. 1886, iv. 2154.
renounce, v.a. ii. 2931.
rente, s. i. 1566, 3356, v. 1053.
repast, s. vi. 698, 926.
repeire, v.n. vii. 1136.
repentaile, s. v. 6783, viii. 3101*.
repentance, s. i. 2446, iii. 803, v. 296.
repente, v.a.n. i. 757, iii. 2184, v. 2837;
refl. iii. 1814, viii. 255;
impers. vii. 5328.
replie, v.n. v. 4644.
repos, s. v. 508.
reposer, viii. 2907.
represse, v.a. vii. 2410, 3334*.
reprise, s. i. 3308, 3414, v. 4708, retribution, cost.
reproef, s. P. 490, vii. 4108.
reproeve(n), v.a. iii. 498, 1274, iv. 862,
reprove, v. 4619.
reptil, s. vii. 1011.
requeste, s. ii. 1491,
reqweste, PP. 27.
reresouper, s. vi. 911, late supper.
rerewarde, s. ii. 1827, rear-guard.
res, s. iii. 1152, 1671, vi. 58, haste.
resceive, see receive.
rescoue, v.a. i. 667, vi. 96,
rescowe, v. 2019, save, deliver.
rescousse, ii. 1700, iii. 2085, v. 2551,
rescouss, iv. 2146, rescue.
resemblable, a. P. 950.
resemblance, s. ii. 1376, iv. 2424.
resemblant, a. iv. 2492.
resembled, v.a.pp. ii. 2839, v. 251, compared.
resigne, v.a. P. 776, ii. 2931.
resistence, s. P. 387, i. 2154.
resonable, a. P. 359, i. 1030, ii. 276, iii. 389.
resoun, reson, P. 151, 488, i. 775, 2675, ii. 2495, iii. 245, iv. 652.
respit, s. iv. 1563, vii. 3828, 5200.
respite, v.a. i. 1053, 1593, iii. 2672, save, i. 2213, vii. 1617, delay;
v.n. i. 1456, delay.
restauracioun, s. vi. 637.
restauratif, a. vi. 859.
reste, s. P. 110, i. 998, 1604, ii. 2509.
reste(n), v.n. ii. 1135, 1476, iv. 736, 1670;
v.a. vii. 2936;
refl. viii. 1308.
resting place, s. vii. 1865.
restore, v.a. P. 761, iii. 1827, 2480, vii. 4445.
restreigne, v.a. P. 510, i. 2660, ii. 889, 1168, restrain, keep back.
retenance, retienance, s. ii. 1576, v. 7467, vii. 1054, retinue.
retenue, s. i. 1328, ii. 3409, iii. 1166, 2421, service, retinue.
rethorien, s. vi. 1399.
rethorike, rethorique (-qe), s. iv. 2649, vi. 1401, vii. 36, 1523 ff., 1631.
retorn, s. vii. 4121.
retorne, v.n. vii. 1428.
retret, s. viii. 2416.
reule, s. P. 108, 803, i. 883,
rewle, iii. 1169,
rule, vi. 9.
reule(n), v.a.n. P. 252, 497, i. 17, 808, ii. 1322,
rewle, iii. 2250.
revel, s. v. 3143.
revelacion, s. viii. 49, 2806.
revelen, v.n. iv. 2719, revel.[Pg 624]
reverence, s. P. 298, i. 218, 3291, ii. 1358, 2843, v. 322.
revers, a. ii. 222, 2105, v. 7658, vi. 1418;
subst. iii. 2289: opposite, contrary.
reversed, pp. P. 30.
revile, v.a. v. 2806, vii. 4635, debase, abuse.
revolucion, s. iv. 1783.
reward, s. iii. 345, iv. 2024, v. 4978, regard, reward.
rewarde, v.a. v. 171, 4471, viii. 2374.
rewardinge, s. iii. 1596, v. 5195.
rewe, v.a.n. P. 164, 1004, iii. 1610, 1625, v. 5760, vii. 3233, repent, be sorry, have pity.
rewe, s. see rowe.
reyn, see rein.
reyne, see reine.
reyni, reyny, a. i. 692, iii. 988, iv. 2979, rainy.
ribald, s. vii. 2383 ff.
Richard, P. 25, viii. 2987*,
genit. Richardes, P. 24*.
riche, a. P. 633, i. 814, 2537;
as subst. vi. 1072;
sup. richest, the richeste, i. 1098, v. 2612.
riche, s. i. 2278, domain.
riche, v.a. iv. 2265, v. 2398, 7744, enrich.
richeliche, adv. iv. 1371.
richesse, s. P. 97, ii. 737, iv. 514, 2208,
pl. richesses, vi. 633.
ride, ryde(n), v.a.n. i. 350, 2035, ii. 945, 3194, iv. 1106, v. 7404, vi. 1188,
pret.sing. rod, i. 348, ii. 1136,
pl. riden, ii. 1272, v. 1293,
imperat. ryd, i. 1562,
pp. ride, vii. 2859;
cam ride, &c., i. 350, iv. 1307: ride, make expedition, lie at anchor.
riedes, s.pl. v. 1031, reeds.
rif, a. ii. 1618, rife, current.
riff, s. viii. 1983, reef (of a sail).
rifle, v.a. iii. 2384, v. 6521.
rigole, v.a. v. 1436, delight (wantonly).
riht, a., rihte, vii. 1312,
def. rihte, ryhte, P. 232, i. 33, 1052, ii. 947,
(righte, viii. 3091),
riht, iii. 300:
adv. riht, ryht, P. 682, 829, i. 639, 1862, 3362, ii. 1789, right, P. 50,
rihte, v. 5351, vii. 545.
riht, ryht, s. P. 271, 795,
right, P. 251, viii. 3023,
ryhte, v. 898,
be rihte, vii. 2137,
at alle rihtes, v. 3530.
rihte, ryhte, v.a. ii. 589, iv. 821, v. 3058, vii. 2728,
(righte, PP. 252),
pret. rihte, vii. 5072, direct, arrange;
v.n. ii. 3071, go right.
rihtful, rihtfull, a. vii. 2833, 2918, 3814, 4122,
(rightful, PP. 59, 383), just, true.
rihtwisnesse, ryhtwisnesse, s. P. 109, i. 2936, v. 1645,
(rightwisnesse, viii. 3035), righteousness.
rime, s. iv. 2414, rhyme.
rime, v.a. v. 1370, put in rhyme.
rinde, rynde, s. i. 3261, v. 324, 4123, bark.
ring, s. i 2420, ii. 2614,
ryng, v. 7119*.
ringe, v.a.,
pp. runge, ii. 1728, iii. 452.
riote, s. v. 1217, 5240, 5278, vii. 1378,
riot, v. 7131*, riot, disorder.
riote, v.refl. vii. 4320.
ripe, a. i. 2822, ii. 2579.
rise, ryse, v.n. P. 544, v. 7135*,
pret. ros, iv. 436,
pp. rise, ii. 1427.
risinge, s. vii. 1085.
risshe, see reisshe.
rivage, s. vi. 1435, viii. 1615, landing place.
rivele, v.n. i. 1681, be wrinkled;
pp. riveled, viii. 2829.
rivere, s. i. 1043, ii. 2161, v. 1014.
ro, s. iv. 2786, roe.
robbe, v.a.n. v. 207, 993, 6107.
robberie, s. iii. 2212, v. 6083 ff., 6142.
Roboas, vii. 4029, 4128.
roche, s. i. 2305, iii. 1048, v. 6814,
pl. rockes, iii. 1034, 1054, rock.
rocke, v.a. ii. 1081.
rockes, s.pl. see roche.
rodd, s. i. 2898, iv. 1276.
rode, s. (1), i. 1730, iv. 1629, journey, raid.
rode, s. (2), vi. 773, ruddy colour.
rode, s. (3), ii. 1161, rood.
Rodes, iv. 1630.
rodi, rody, a. iv. 385, v. 2471, viii. 1909, ruddy.
Rodopeie, iv. 734.
rof, s. ii. 2947, roof.
rolle, v.n. iii. 313, vii. 3707.
romance, s. vi. 878.
Romanie, ii. 2638, vii. 5155.
rome, a.n. v. 6502.
Rome, P. 715 ff., 845, i. 763 ff., ii. 588 ff., 1195 ff., 1315 ff., 1448 ff., 1638 ff., 2502 ff., 2803, 3039, 3189, 3476 ff., iii. 100, iv. 2647, v. 904, 1067, 1435, 2031 ff., 2196, 2393, 4939, 5020, 5125, 6359 ff., 6811, 7104* ff., vii. 1598, 2061, 2347, 2361 ff., 2448, 2767, 2785, 2882 ff., 3145, 3216 ff., 3269 ff., 3946, 4188, 4636 ff., 5131 ff., viii. 199, 2717, PP. 353;
Rome lond, P. 715,
Rome gate, ii. 1537.[Pg 625]
Romein, a. ii. 1406, 1829, 2565, iv. 2639;
subst. P. 768, i. 764, ii. 2554 ff., vii. 2846, 4594,
Romain, viii. 2633,
pl. Romeins, P. 737, 841, ii. 679, 1774 ff., 2777, v. 1068 ff., 1307, 2199 ff., vii. 2336, 3061, 4697 ff.
Romelond, ii. 2544.
Romeward, ii. 1173, v. 2190.
Romulus, v. 900, vii. 3061.
rondeal, s. i. 2709, 2727.
ronne, see renne.
rooted, a. i. 1319.
rore, v.n. ii. 160, roar.
rore, s. vi. 2183.
rose, s. i. 603, ii. 402.
Rosemounde, i. 2481.
rosine, s. v. 2176, rosin.
Rosiphelee, iv. 1249.
rosmarine, s. vii. 1407.
rote, s. (1), P. 118, i. 145, 2838, iv. 134,
roote, vii. 3336*, root.
rote, s. (2), vi. 1312, 1457, custom, condition.
rote, s. (3), viii. 829, (a musical instrument).
rother, s. ii. 2494, rudder.
round, a. iv. 1147, vi. 777,
pl. rounde, vi. 1327:
adv. i. 358, 2829, iv. 3005.
roune, v.n. ii. 45, 1944, iv. 407, v. 478;
v.a. v. 2460: whisper.
rounge, v.n. ii. 520, nibble.
route, s. P. 793, i. 2734, ii. 2997, iii. 2389, v. 1910, 5054, company, quantity:
al a route, iv. 2145, v. 6932.
route, v.n. iv. 2731, 3272, v. 6895, snore.
routhe, see rowthe.
rovere, s. iii. 2369.
rowe, s. ii. 1960, iv. 26, 2238,
rewe, viii. 998, row, company;
be rowe, vi. 1315, in order:
cp. arowe, arewe.
rowe, v.n. (1), P. 40*, i. 1961, iv. 1781;
v.a. ii. 1905: row.
rowe, v.n. (2), iii. 1057, dawn.
rowthe, routhe, s. i. 182, 1200, iii. 1597, v. 5394, pity.
rueke, v.n. iv. 1669, crouch.
ruide, rude, ii. 173, iv. 946, v. 2571, viii. 3122.
ruine, s. P. 837, v. 1706.
rule, see reule.
runge, see ringe.
rust, s. iv. 2494, 2557.
rusti, a. viii. 1378.
ryde, see ride.
ryht, ryhtwisnesse, see riht, &c.
ryve, s. vi. 1429, viii. 516, shore.
S
Saba, v. 6833, 6932.
sable, s. viii. 2904.
sacre, v.a. vii. 4510, worship.
sacrement, s. PP. 309.
sacrifice, sacrifise, s. i. 1120, 1141, iii. 1995, iv. 2966.
sacrifie, v.a.n. i. 1128, iv. 1519, viii. 1826, sacrifice, offer.
sacrilegge, s. v. 6979 ff.,
sacrilege, v. 7016*, 7090.
sadd, a. vii. 226, firm.
sadel, s. iv. 1202,
pl. sadles, iv. 1312.
sage, a. v. 7455.
saghte, see sawht.
Sagittarius, Sagittaire, vii. 1143, 1150, 1258.
sai, sain, saide, &c., see seie.
sail, see seil.
saintuaire, s. P. 322.
sake, s. P. 24, i. 209, 2474, ii. 585.
sal armoniak, s. iv. 2480.
Salamyne, iv. 3652.
sale, s. v. 5084.
salfly, see saufly.
salge, s. vii. 1385.
saliens, see Capra.
Salomon, iv. 2340, vi. 93, 1317, 1407, vii. 3594, 3865, 3891 ff., 4027, 4477 ff., viii. 2691, PP. 29.
salt, s. iv. 1837.
salte, a. iv. 1666, 3092, v. 1342,
pl. v. 1347.
salue, v.a. ii. 1504, greet.
Salustes, Saluste, ii. 1199, 1220.
salvacion, s. ii. 3361, v. 1795.
salvage, a. iv. 2262, vii. 4112, wild.
salve, s. P. 134, 396, ii. 2788, viii. 2290, cure.
salvely, see saufly.
Samarie, iv. 1938, vi. 2387, vii. 2554.
same, a. i. 1585;
as subst. P. 461, i. 629, 3032.
same, adv. v. 3375, together.
Samele, v. 1044.
Sampnites, pl. vii. 2787.
Sampson, vi. 94, viii. 2703.
Samuel, iv. 1936 ff., vii. 3821 ff.
sanguin, a. vii. 455.
sanz, prep. iii. 1550, v. 508.
saphir, s. vii. 1342.
sapience, s. v. 1205.
Sarazin, s. iii. 2489, iv. 1679, vii. 3702 ff., 4412, PP. 250;
fem. Sarazine, ii. 705, vii. 4496, viii. 2694.[Pg 626]
Sardana Pallus, vii. 4314, Sardanapalus.
sardis, vii. 1416, sard.
Sarra, vii. 5315.
Satiri, pl. v. 1327.
satureie, s. vii. 1423, savory.
Saturnus, Saturne, Satorne, iv. 2445, v. 845 ff., 1133 ff., 1221, 1388, vi. 1293;
(the planet) iv. 2471, 3223, vii. 937, 1115, 1174, 1188, 1330, 1340, 1374, 1427, viii. 2275.
sauf, a. P. 104, ii. 181, iv. 917,
sauf conduit, v. 994,
saulf, P. 1016,
pl. save, ii. 1157, iv. 1453, 2172, safe:
adv. ii. 935, 2188, safely:
as prep. i. 432,
save, i. 1271,
salve, v. 1359, save, except;
save ... that, iv. 3497.
saufly, saufli, adv. i. 1469, 3152, ii. 3309, v. 2159,
saufliche, v. 3617,
salvely, v. 2932,
salfly, v. 2965, safely.
Saül, iv. 1935 ff., vi. 2384, vii. 3821 ff.
saundres, s.pl. ii. 1961.
save, v.a. P. 470, i. 941, 1300, iii. 927.
save, prep., see sauf.
saveine, s. vii. 1353.
savinge, s. v. 2794, vii. 3383.
savour, s. iv. 2495, v. 587.
sawe, s. ii. 588, 1396, iii. 431, iv. 2684, saying, speech.
sawht, pp.a. iii. 2742, reconciled,
saghte (pl.), viii. 1149, at peace.
Saxon, ii. 723,
Saxoun (language), ii. 1405.
say, s. ii. 2090, trial.
scales, see skales.
scars, see skars.
scarsly, see skarsly.
scarsnesse, see skarsnesse.
sceptre, s. ii. 589, PP. 378.
schake, v.a., pp. v. 570,
pret. schok, vi. 2205.
schal, v. 1, 3 s.pres. P. 15, 93, i. 1711, iv. 377, 2823,
2 s. schalt, P. 589,
pl. schulle(n), i. 2251, 2558,
schul(l), i. 3197, 3246, v. 1914,
schule, v. 3529,
schol, P. 1034,
pret. scholde(n), P. 43, 153, 275, 362, 421, &c.,
schold, ii. 578,
schulde(n), P. 317, v. 5357, viii. 2961,
(schuldyn, viii. 3004): shall, must, may.
schale, s. iv. 566, (nut) shell.
schallemele, s. viii. 2483, shawm.
schame, s. i. 274, 1668, ii. 3062, 3355, iv. 871.
schame, v.a. iii. 2200, v. 723.
schameles, a. vii. 1964, free from shame.
schanckes, s.pl. iv. 2725, legs.
schape(n), v.a.n. and refl. P. 387, i. 297, 820, 1514, 1551, 3342,
pret. schop, P. 706, ii. 2855, iii. 1206,
schope, v. 4278,
pl. schope(n), i. 1105, 2627,
pp. schape(n), i. 1195, 1509, 1544; shape, appoint, contrive, prepare, bring about.
schaply, a. ii. 3112.
schappe, s. i. 1736, shape.
schapthe, s. vi. 785, shape.
scharnebud, s. ii. 413, dung-beetle.
scharpe, a. P. 396, iii. 252, iv. 2417, vii. 170.
scharpnesse, s. P. 1084.
schave, v.a. viii. 1303.
schawe, s. iv. 1293, v. 6133, wood.
sche, pron. P. 853, i. 148, &c.,
scheo, i. 160.
schede(n), v.a. iii. 2243, vii. 3493,
pret. schedde, PP. 148,
pp. schad, iv. 1661, PP. 105.
schedinge, s. iii. 1105, 2534.
scheete, s. viii. 1194.
scheld, see schield.
schelle, s. vi. 2228, vii. 615, viii. 2120.
schenche, v.a. ii. 3098, pour out.
schent, v.a.pp. i. 1292, iii. 450, iv. 554, v. 728, harmed, ruined.
schep, schiep, s. P. 399, v. 3271,
pl. P. 414, iv. 2894.
scheperdesse, s. v. 6115.
schepherde, s. P. 394, 1064, iii. 2257.
scherded, (pp.) a. v. 3707.
scherdes, s.pl. vi. 1985, scales.
schere, v.a. v. 4001,
pp. schore, i. 1751, cut, crop.
scheres, s.pl. v. 5691.
scherte, s. i. 2171, ii. 2243,
schortes (pl.), i. 2179.
schete, v.n.,
3 s.pres. schet, ii. 2957,
pret. schotte, v. 4862, shoot.
schette, v.a. ii. 2130,
pret. schette, vi. 1587,
pp. schet, ii. 2807, iii. 2043;
v.n. iii. 1453, vii. 4623: shut.
schewe(n), v.a. P. 112, i. 84, 1035, ii. 603,
imperat. schew, scheu, i. 185, v. 6190, show;
v.n. P. 46, 834, i. 626, ii. 1921, iii. 809, 857, appear, be evident.
schield, scheld, s. i. 421, 1998, 2470, ii. 2594.
schiep, see schep.
schifte, v.a. iii. 1310, v. 3166, 4668, vii. 1518, viii. 556, arrange, dispose of, turn.
schilde, schylde, v.a. P. 67*, ii. 714, iv. 2753, v. 6334, vi. 1244;
v.n. 266: protect, defend.[Pg 627]
schip, s. i. 1065, ii. 24,
be schipe, P. 1016, iv. 731,
to (into) schipe, i. 1164, ii. 1108,
to schip, viii. 1573.
schipman, s. i. 500, iii. 991, viii. 1084.
schode, v.a. i. 1750, vii. 1534, divide.
schof, see schowve.
scholde, see schal.
schoo, scho, s. P. 356, vii. 4306, shoe.
schort, a. i. 1687, iv. 1709,
schorte, vii. 5201,
pl. schorte, ii. 903, iii. 874.
schortly, schortli, adv. i. 1690, v. 2603.
schote, s. ii. 2238, shot.
schour, s. vii. 290,
pl. schoures, v. 4173, 7829,
shoures, P. 938.
schovele, s. v. 16, shovel.
schowve, v.a. ii. 2340,
pret. schof, ii. 174, iv. 108,
pp. schoven, vii. 3280, push, thrust.
schreden, v.a. i. 2837, tear.
schrewe, s. iii. 798, 2220, v. 959, vii. 44, rascal, scoundrel.
schrewed, a. vi. 2098, villainous.
schrifte, s. i. 197, 818, v. 1385.
schrive(n), schryve, v.a.n. and refl. i. 208, 219, 546, iii. 1127, v. 7101,
pret. schrof, iv. 519,
imperat. scrif (thee), i. 587, 2718,
pp. schrive(n), i. 190, 2383, iv. 1772,
schryve, viii. 2969, confess, hear in confession, absolve.
schrunken, pp. i. 1683.
schryhte, v.n.pret. viii. 1383, shrieked.
schuldre, s. P. 607, i. 1687, ii. 2220, shoulder.
schydes, s.pl. iii. 1033, split pieces (of wood).
schylde, see schilde.
schyne, v.n. iii. 1308, iv. 980,
pret. schon, iv. 3551.
science, s. iv. 974, 2413,
pl. sciences, iv. 2666, vii. 27.
scisme, s. P. 348, schism.
sclaundre, sclandre, sklaundre, s. ii. 881, v. 712, 5536, 7570, vii. 3083.
sclaundre, v.a. ii. 864, slander.
scole, s. P. 199, i. 2665, ii. 436, iv. 3373, school.
scomerfare, s. viii 1391, piracy.
score, s. ii. 500, iv. 1356, 2891.
scorn, s. viii. 2397,
to scorne, to skorne, v. 696, 6931, vii. 3992.
scorne, v.a. v. 6217.
Scorpio, vii. 1123 ff., 1259, 1403,
tail of Scorpio, vii. 1426.
scorpioun (-on), s. vii. 1124, 4091.
Scottes, pl. ii. 929.
scribe, s. P. 305.
scripture, P. 872, iv. 2626, writing.
scrivein, s. iii. 1070, writer.
sculpture, s. iv. 2422, vi. 1343.
se, sen, v.a.n. P. 28, 134, 610, i. 1132,
(see, PP. 281 ff., 382),
2 s.pres. sest, ii. 1059,
3 s. seth, i. 2804, ii. 224,
pret. sih, syh, P. 603, 617, i. 795, &c.,
sawh, i. 138, iii. 1604,
sihe, v. 5810,
(sigh, viii. 2962),
2 s. sihe, ii. 234, iii. 2629,
pl. syhe(n), sihen, iii. 970, vii. 1798, 4745,
pret. subj. syhe, sihe, i. 664, 904,
imperat. seth, ii. 861,
pres. part. seënde, ii. 1808,
pp. sen, P. 342,
sene, P. 789, 936,
seene, iv. 1492,
seie, ii. 967, v. 2374,
sein, seyn, i. 2883, ii. 170, iii. 757.
seal, s. i. 1474, 1487, ii. 3217.
seche, v.a.n. P. 173, 899, i. 570, 1285, 2278, ii. 3219, iv. 3463,
(3 pl.pres. sechin, viii. 3036),
sieche, viii. 2911,
seke, sieke, i. 1024, 3072, ii. 928, 1455, iv. 1604,
pret. soghte(n), i. 425, 1144, ii. 2474, iv. 2163,
soughte, P. 197, v. 3933,
sowhte, iv. 3548,
pp. soght, ii. 3128,
sought, v. 4003,
imperat. sech, v. 7605;
al to seche, noght to s., &c., i. 924, ii. 44, 2276, iv. 2963.
secounde, a. i. 2601, ii. 1, iv. 2479, v. 2127,
seconde, i. 1233, v. 2129, following, second.
secre, a. ii. 2132,
in secre, i. 617.
secret, s. vi. 1573.
secretaire, s. iv. 888, private counsellor.
secte, s. P. 349, v. 1643, vii. 1572, religion, kind.
seculers, s.pl. i. 648.
sed, s. iv. 3007, v. 4014, seed.
Sedechie, vii. 2566 ff.
see, se, s. (1) P. 306, v. 1944, vi. 1037, seat.
see, se, s. (2) P. 933, i. 486, ii. 145, 2531, iii. 86, sea:
see foul, vi. 2129,
cp. sefoul.
seewolf, s. v. 4138, shark.
sefne, see sevene.
sefnthe, a. vii. 1363.
sefoul, s. viii. 2654.
Segne, v. 1113.
seie (1), sein, sain, v.a.n.inf. P. 431, i. 281, 2760, (seye, seyn, P. 86*, viii. 2966), say, sai, i. 2750, v. 5198,
2 s.pres. seist, saist, i. 176, ii. 555,
3 s. seith, P. 43, &c.,
3 pl. sein, sain, P. 12, 56, seie, P. 442,
pret. seide, saide, i. 153, 768, 2740, 3218, sayde, v. 1756, seid, i. 3188, v. 4309,
imperat. sey, sei, say, sai, i. 184, 1822, 2418, ii. 1871, iii. 932, seie, vii. 4084,[Pg 628]
pp. seid, said, P. 335, i. 585, 1229, 3323, iii. 931, vii. 150;
as who seith, P. 43, i. 2794: say, name.
seie (2), see se.
seil, s. i. 704, 1165, ii. 2152, iii. 1555,
sail, v. 3313, 3923, sail.
seile(n), saile, v.n. i. 511, iv. 1741, v. 991,
pres.part. sailende, seilende, ii. 1210, iv. 733, v. 5407,
seilinge, i. 524.
sein, pp. see se.
seint, a. ii. 3335,
fem. seinte, iv. 964.
seint, s. viii. 2778,
pl. seintz, v. 1813.
seintefie, v.a. vii. 4247, viii. 1269.
seisine, see sesine.
sek, siek, a. i. 703, 1703, ii. 15, v. 586, viii. 873,
sik, v. 616,
def. sike, vi. 1012,
pl. seke, P. 914;
as subst. the sike, ii. 1202,
pl. seke, ii. 3163,
sieke, viii. 2368: sick, sick man.
seke, see seche.
seker, see siker.
sekerliche, see sikerliche.
sekernesse, see sikernesse.
seknesse, s. P. 61, i. 2571, v. 410,
sieknesse, i. 185, 713,
siknesse, ii. 3249, iii. 280, sickness.
selde(n), adv. P. 787, iii. 1636, iv. 61,
sielde(n), iv. 1472, 2282, v. 4420;
sielde whanne, iv. 2734,
sielde wher, vii. 4240,
selde if, v. 6595,
selden whanne ... if, vii. 4328: seldom.
seli, a. iii. 658, simple.
selk, s. iv. 857, v. 5770, silk.
selle, v.a. ii. 3061, v. 243,
pret. solde, iii. 2546,
pp. sold, ii. 1662.
Selonites, vii. 4515.
selve, a. i. 200, ii. 51, 2064;
as subst. that selve, i. 1247.
selver, s. P. 608, iv. 2460, viii. 823.
Sem, vii. 546, 557, viii. 83.
semblable, a. i. 646, iii. 2595, v. 1545.
semblance, semblaunce, s. ii. 3273, iv. 379, v. 1534, 6674.
semblant, s. P. 114, i. 1213, ii. 1912, vi. 707, appearance;
feigne semblant, ii. 187, 2015, 2196, make pretence.
seme(n), v.n. and impers. P. 559, i. 614, 903,
sieme, i. 1891, viii. 2386,
me (him, you) semeth, iii. 2344, iv. 965, 1774.
Semiramis, iii. 1332, v. 1432.
semly, semlich, a. i. 1899, viii. 708.
sempiterne, a. vii. 104.
senatour, s. ii. 1195, 1330.
sende, v.a.n. P. 86, 161,
pret. sende, P. 1013, i. 851, 992,
sente, i. 3095, ii. 613, v. 1072,
pp. sent, P. 588,
send, v. 5236.
Senec, ii. 3095, v. 7735.
senne, sinne, s. P. 457, 920, 1017, i. 2929, ii. 3063, iii. 2033, 2546, v. 1739 ff.,
(synne, viii. 3040), sin.
sensible, a. vii. 127.
sentence, s. i. 2153, ii. 2978, 3417, vii. 1620.
Septembre, vii. 1117, viii. 2845.
Septemtrion, vii. 1264.
sepulture, s. i. 2349, iii. 2015.
Serapis, v. 1564 ff.
serpent, s. i. 396,
pl. serpentz, viii. 2574.
servage, s. ii. 2981, vii. 4096, servitude.
servant, s. i. 251, ii. 3300,
pl. servantz, iii. 18,
servantes, vii. 2333*.
serve(n), v.a. P. 707, i. 737, 860, 2521, ii. 35, 1297, iii. 502, iv. 531;
v.n. i. 169, 1245, 2131, iii. 1291, iv. 1407,
(3 s.pres. servith, viii. 3026).
servicable, a. v. 762.
service, servise, s. P. 78*, i. 176, ii. 2971, iv. 1036.
servitute, s. v. 1655.
sese, v.a. i. 1697, 2479, 3357, ii. 3009, iii. 2646, seize, take possession of, deliver as a possession.
sesine, seisine, s. v. 5527, vii. 564, possession.
sesoun (-on), s. iii. 693, vii. 1014, season.
set, s. vii. 4913, setting (of the sun).
sete, seete, s. v. 846, vi. 1041, vii. 2900, seat.
sette(n), v.a.n. P. 357, i. 2,
3 s.pres. set, i. 637, 1724,
sett, viii. 3089,
pret. sette, P. 41*, i. 201, ii. 2226, vii. 4624,
set, ii. 2220, v. 3691,
imperat. sett, viii. 2095,
pp. set, sett, P. 116, 245, i. 1486, iii. 647,
sette, vi. 10,
sete, vii. 2864;
sette ... of, v. 2498,
set ... therby, viii. 2194;
set, appoint, suppose, account, plant, make attack.
sevene, num. P. 804, i. 577, ii. 3207,
sefne, i. 2916, vii. 692.
seventy, num. viii. 91.
Severus, vii. 4575.
sewe, s. v. 5900, seasoned dish.
sex, sexe, num. v. 7246, vii. 5347, viii. 126.
sexte, a. vii. 908, 1082.
sextenthe, a. P. 25.
sextiene, num. vii. 1055.
seyinge, s. viii. 3081*.
Seyix, see Ceïx.
shoures, see schoures.
sibb, a. viii. 1703, related.[Pg 629]
Sibeles, Sibele, v. 1135 ff.
Sibille, v. 7454.
sibrede, s. viii. 139, 266, kindred.
sich, see such.
Siculus, vii. 3296.
side, syde, s. P. 28, 146, 392, 1085, i. 2381, 3424, iii. 1503, iv. 1308, 3227,
(ride) on side, iv. 1311.
Sidoyne, vii. 4499.
sieche, see seche.
siege, s. i. 1082, iii. 1759.
sieged, v.a.pp. iii. 2046, besieged.
siek, sieknesse, see sek, seknesse.
sieke, v. see seche.
sielde(n), see selde(n).
sighe, syghen, v.n. iv. 3170, v. 3670, 5729, sigh.
sighte, see sihte.
signal, s. vi. 1668, sign.
signe, s. i. 2544, iii. 2227;
(of the zodiac) iv. 3222, v. 752, vii. 695, 968 ff.
signet, s. v. 5775.
signifie, signefie, v.a. P. 885, iii. 814, v. 914, vii. 4717.
sihte, syhte, s. i. 427, 437, 665, 1728, 2221, ii. 3072,
sighte, vii. 1228, viii. 2950, sight.
sik, see sek.
sike, syke, v.n. i. 697, 1726, 2996, 3140, ii. 1350, iv. 1150, sigh.
siker, seker, a. P. 568, ii. 2422, 3153, iv. 1003, v. 664, 2427;
superl. sikerest, ii. 2469,
the sekereste, vi. 1599;
adv. i. 3048, 3339, iv. 911: sure, secure; surely.
sikerliche, sekerliche, adv. i. 1564, 2145,
sikerly, iii. 1427,
sikirly, iv. 2498, surely, assuredly.
sikernesse, sekernesse, s. i. 1890, iv. 937, v. 205, vi. 232, security.
siknesse, see seknesse.
silence, s. i. 1302,
cilence, iv. 3206, vi. 1872.
sillable, s. viii 2049.
silogime, s. viii. 2708.
Silvestre, P. 742, ii. 3351 ff., PP. 346.
Simon (Magus), P. 204, 241, 439 ff., ii. 3055.
simple, a. iv. 1187, v. 2589, viii. 3052*.
simplesce (-esse), s. P. 217, i. 832, 2099,
(symplesce, P. 76*, symplesse, viii. 3134), simplicity, humility.
sinful(l), a. iii. 2569, PP. 45;
as subst. iv. 3490.
singe, v.n. i. 111, ii. 3012, iii. 330,
pret. song, P. 1057, ii. 1080,
sang, i. 2732,
pl. songe, i. 2034,
sunge, v. 1468,
pp. sunge, ii. 1300.
singulier, singuler, a. vii. 1996, 2931, private.
sinke, v.n. i. 1309, v. 2938,
sincke, iii. 1628,
pret. sank, ii. 2070,
pp. sunke, vi. 115.
sinne, see senne.
sire, s. P. 722, i. 2878, ii. 54, 2710, lord, sir.
Sirenes, pl. i. 484.
sithe, sythe, s. v. 3590,
ofte sithe (sithes), fulofte sythe, &c. i. 118, 318, 1400, ii. 658, iii. 458, time, times.
siththe(n), adv. P. 832, i. 1842, vi. 2351;
conj. siththe, sith, sithe(n), P. 973, i. 13, iii. 66, vi. 1073,
sithen that, i. 2244: since.
sitte, v.n. P. 337, i. 2397,
2 s.pres. sist, v. 5742,
sittest, vii. 2462,
3 s. sit, sitt, i. 1317, v. 6121,
sitteth, iv. 2724, vii. 2286,
pret. sat, i. 1675, iv. 653,
satte, vii. 2282,
pl. seten, i. 2524, ii. 2913, iii. 2163,
siete(n), iii. 1809, v. 3339,
seete, vi. 1174, sit, be seated:
impers. (it) sit, i. 273, 745, 1211, iii. 1674,
sitte, viii. 2428, suits, is fitting.
sive, s. iii. 433, sieve.
skales, scales, s.pl. ii. 3456, v. 4128.
skar, s. P. 507, crack.
skarcete, s. v. 4857, stinginess.
skars, scars, a. v. 4712, 4728, sparing.
skarse, v.n. viii. 1146, diminish.
skarsly, scarsly, adv. iv. 552, v. 4412.
skarsnesse, scarsnesse, s. v. 394, 4674 ff., 4740, stinginess.
skiere, v. (refl.) i. 478, ii. 472, v. 1424, defend.
skile, s. P. 380, 402, i. 36, 1866, iii. 2165,
skyle, iii. 2360,
pl. skiles, ii. 2770, reason, reasoning:
as a. iii. 397, reasonable.
skile, v.n. viii. 2047, reason.
skin, skyn, s. i. 1681, v. 2469, 6862.
skippe, v.n. iv. 2784, vii. 345,
pret. skipte, iv. 2110, v. 4997.
sklaundre, see sclaundre.
skorne, see scorne.
skulke, v.a. iv. 2720.
skulle, s. i. 2544 ff.
sky, s. i. 2001, iii. 984, iv. 825, 1436, viii. 2942,
pl. skyes, v. 3993, cloud, sky.
skyn, see skin.
slades, s.pl. iv. 2727.
slake, v.a. iv. 2812, viii. 1983, slacken, appease;
v.n. PP. 220.[Pg 630]
slawhte, s. iii. 2058, 2483, slaying.
sle(e), slen, v.a.n. i. 1439, 2590, iii. 261,
3 s.pres. sleth, ii. 2623, iii. 957,
(sleeth, PP. 265),
pret. slowh, slouh, slow, slou, i. 434, v. 3727, 4045, 5897,
pl. slowhe, i. 377, v. 1722,
slowen, i. 1181,
subj. slowe, PP. 132,
pp. slain, slayn, P. 685, i. 527, 1427,
slawe, i. 514, ii. 770.
sleihte, sleyhte, s. i. 468, 688, 797, 1085, 1111,
sleighte, iv. 2082, 2123, v. 2111,
pl. sleyhtes, ii. 1873, skill, device, trickery.
slep, s. i. 155, 1782,
a slepe, v. 2177,
to slepe, ii. 3333,
to slep, iv. 2819,
Slep, Slepes hous, god of Slep, iv. 2973 ff.
slepe(n), v.n. P. 310, 476, i. 884,
pret. slepte, P. 595,
slep, v. 2762,
pp. slepe, iv. 2914, v. 158.
slepi, a. iv. 2731, 2848, vi. 1405.
slider, a. vi. 378, slippery.
slieve, s. v. 2575, 7669.
slih, see slyh.
slipte, v.n.pret. iv. 2109.
slitte, s. P. 338, cleft, separation.
slombre, v.n. iv. 3032.
slow, slou, slowh, slouh, a. iv. 54, 245, 1281, v. 1949, vii. 415, 761,
voc. slowe, iv. 843,
pl. (as subst.) slowe, iv. 137, 356, 1082;
superl. the sloweste, iv. 1082.
slowh, s. i. 2981, marsh.
slowthe, slouthe, s. P. 321, 342, iii. 2758, iv. 3 &c., sloth.
slowthe, v.a. iv. 19, lose by sloth;
v.n. iv. 1796, 3420, be slothful.
sluggardie, s. iv. 2714, 3177,
slugardie, iv. 2752.
slyde(n), v.n. iv. 41, v. 4158, vi. 1792, vii. 4457.
slyh, slih, a. P. 262, v. 2303, vii. 4936,
def. slyhe, ii. 2374,
slyh, ii. 2341,
pl. slyhe, slihe, ii. 2199, v. 3213, vii. 3257*;
superl. def. slyheste, slyeste, i. 1442, ii. 2102: cunning.
slyhli (-ly), adv. i. 2629, v. 677, 7145*.
slyke, v.a. v. 7092*, smoothe;
v.n. v. 6634, flatter.
slym, s. vii. 338.
slype, v.refl. v. 6530, sneak along.
smal, a. iv. 463, 1147,
def. smale, v. 1990,
pl. smale, P. 81, i. 1679;
as subst.pl. P. 426: slender, small.
smale, adv. v. 4535.
smaragdine, s. vii. 840, emerald.
smarte, adv. vii. 848, quickly.
smeile, v.n. iv. 2546;
v.a. vii. 2794.
smite, see smyte.
smith, s. v. 644, 962.
smok, s. i. 2171.
smoke, s. ii. 1556.
smyle, v.n. ii. 1404, iv. 388, v. 3012.
smyte, v.a.n. P. 424, iii. 910,
3 s.pres. smit, P. 1085,
pret. sing. smot, i. 2003, 2342, ii. 874, iv. 3349,
smette, ii. 2239,
pp. smite(n), iii. 911, v. 334, vii. 4695.
snake, s. vii. 1010.
snoute, s. iii. 128, 1400, iv. 2749.
snow, s. vii. 293, viii. 2851,
snow whyt, iii. 807.
so, adv. P. 8, 29, i. 1695, ii. 139;
who so, P. 1002,
how so, i. 1455,
be so, so be, i. 187, 1652,
up so doun, ii. 1744, iii. 80, iv. 561.
sobbe(n), v.n. iii. 303, v. 5729.
sobbinge, s. i. 2182.
sobre, a. P. 239, iii. 140, viii. 2684, 2869.
sobre, v.a. viii. 1700.
socour, s. iii. 2670, v. 4953.
socoure, v.a. i. 653, ii. 2882, iii. 328.
Socrates, iii. 640, 701.
sode, pp. v. 4281, boiled.
sodein, a. P. 619, i. 1069, ii. 688, iii. 335,
soudein, v. 4942, sudden:
adv. iii. 862.
sodeinliche, soudeinliche, adv. P. 503, i. 2963, v. 7830, vi. 211,
sodeinly (-li), P. 1038, i. 911, iv. 573,
soudeinly, vi. 1423,
(sodeynly, viii. 2961*).
soffrance, suffrance, s. P. 773, iii. 1639, 1672, v. 4267,
(suffraunce, viii. 3022*).
soffre, suffre, v.a.n. P. 698, 788, i. 1371, 2380, 2570, 2941, ii. 206, 3023, v. 7378,
3 s.pres. soffreth, soeffreth, suffreth, iii. 2431, iv. 1428, v. 574,
(1 pl. soeffrin, PP. 222); suffer, allow, leave, permit.
softe, a. i. 619, 1220, 2564, soft, iii. 2734,
pl. softe, i. 915, ii. 309;
the softe pas, iii. 1386; gentle, quiet:
adv. P. 476, i. 1725.
softly, adv. iv. 2885.
sojorne, sojourne, v.n. iv. 740, 3224, v. 1078, vii. 1173, viii. 1286, dwell, remain:
pp. sojorned, vi. 1180, vii. 294, kept.
solas, s. vii. 1900, pleasure.
soldan, see souldan.
solein, soulein, a. iii. 1220, iv. 448, vi. 135,
fem. soleine, v. 1971, alone, lonely, strange.
solempne, sollempne, a. v. 1317, vii. 4703, viii. 1561.[Pg 631]
solempnite, sollempnite, s. i. 1157, iv. 3651,
solempnete, sollempnete, iii. 2169, vi. 1825, vii. 2405, celebration, ceremony.
sollempneliche, adv. viii. 1617.
solucion, s. iv. 2515.
Solyns, Solins, iii. 2600, iv. 2410, Solinus.
som, a. P. 6, i. 1499, v. 2469 ff.,
som while, som time, iii. 2624, iv. 649, viii. 3119,
som man, vii. 643 f.;
pl. some, i. 1265,
somme, P. 355,
alle and some, v. 7320,
som men, P. 529, iii. 2113:
as subst. som, vi. 384,
pl. some, somme, P. 432, i. 2034 ff., ii. 1362, 2510, iii. 2112.
somdiel, somdel, a. P. 613, iii. 697, iv. 800;
adv. P. 286, 612, i. 1003: some, somewhat.
somer, s. iv. 1091, viii. 2853,
somer dai, ii. 732,
somer floures, P. 937; summer.
somerfare, s. viii. 2856, condition of summer.
somertide, s. v. 6009,
somer tyde, v. 6819.
somme, s. iii. 2568, vii. 161, viii. 1119, sum.
somoune, sommone, v.a. vii. 5182, viii. 1551, 1915, summon.
sompnolence, s. iv. 2703, 2770 ff.
somtime, adv. iv. 810 f., 1131, 2799,
somtyme, iv. 3304,
som time, som tyme, iv. 649, viii. 3119.
somwhat, pron. i. 1297, iii. 2332, iv. 2829;
adv. P. 19.
somwho, pron. P. 345, some one.
sond, s. v. 4009, vi. 1294, sand.
sonde, s. ii. 324, 1567, iii. 247, iv. 799, viii. 1859, sending, message, decree.
sondre, v.n.,
to sondre, iii. 986, part asunder.
sondri, sondry, P. 29, 501, i. 2530, ii. 1476, iii. 2210, v. 1458,
sundri, v. 7437, separate, several, various.
sondrily, adv. vii. 1305.
sone, s. P. 740, i. 206 &c.,
to sone, v. 806; son.
sone, adv. i. 996, 1633, 2091, ii. 357,
also sone, i. 3079; soon.
soned, see soune.
song, s. ii. 3012, iv. 3346,
songe, i. 2745,
pl. songes, i. 2739.
sonne, s. P. 919, iii. 1307, iv. 979,
sonne lyht, v. 2790,
sonnes l., vi. 559,
sunne, ii. 3452, sun.
sopp, s. v. 3807.
sor, s. P. 134, ii. 22, 2789,
sore, v. 2858, hurt, sore.
sorceresse, s. vi. 1434, viii. 2602.
sorcerie, s. iv. 2077, v. 940, vi. 1289, 1768 ff.
sore, adv. P. 598, i. 475, 2245,
sor, vii. 5256.
sore, v.n. i. 2672, vii. 1842, soar.
sore, s., see sor.
sorgful(l), a. ii. 1303, iii. 1481, sorrowful.
sorgfully, sorwfulli, adv. i. 3173, ii. 69.
sorghe, see sorwe.
sori, sory, a. i. 989, 2182, ii. 2307, iii. 2203, iv. 1347, wretched, unhappy.
sort, s. i. 673, iv. 450, 3099, kind, lot.
Sortes, viii. 2718.
sorwe, s. i. 971, 1665, ii. 48, iv. 1212,
sorghe, ii. 165, v. 513, sorrow.
sorwe, v.n. i. 1814, 3182, ii. 745;
v.a. PP. 104.
soster, s. i. 399, 3155, iii. 165, iv. 1383,
suster, iv. 1369,
genit. sostres, v. 5726.
sosterhode, s. v. 4205, 5398, viii. 103,
sosterhiede, viii. 96.
soth, a. P. 12, 534, i. 1955,
def. sothe, iii. 1270,
pl. sothe, PP. 93,
in soth, iii. 1078.
soth, s. ii. 58,
the sothe, P. 834, 850, i. 981,
pl. sothes, vii. 2351, truth.
sothfastnesse, s. i. 2268, vii. 3303*.
sothly, sothli, adv. ii. 522, iv. 3496, v. 244,
sothliche, ii. 2021, truly.
sothsawe, s. v. 2935, truth.
sothseiere, s. iii. 761, vii. 2348.
sotie, s. i. 539, 2320, iv. 1887,
sotye, vi. 223, folly.
soubgit, a. P. 675, iv. 3523, v. 1726,
sougit, vi. 1507;
subst. soubgit, iii. 1277, v. 55,
subgit, PP. 165: subject.
soubtil, soutil, a. ii. 2125, iv. 2076, vi. 1443,
soubtiel, v. 1026.
soubtilite, s. ii. 2378, 3046,
soutilete, v. 2138.
souche, v.n. i. 314, ii. 1969, suspect.
soudein, see sodein.
soudeinliche, see sodeinliche.
sougit, see soubgit.
souke, v.n. ii. 3227, suck.
souldan, soldan, s. ii. 613 ff., 2548 ff., vii. 1784.
souldeour, s. iii. 2356, soldier.
soule, s. P. 453,
genit. P. 749, ii. 1313.
soulein, see solein.
soulphre, see sulphre.
soun, s. i. 2217, iii. 453, iv. 346, sound.
sound, a. ii. 2223, v. 5371, vi. 1488,
pl. sounde, v. 4164.[Pg 632]
soune, v.n. i. 2807, ii. 2875, iii. 60;
v.a. v. 5699,
soned, (pp.), iv. 2644: sound.
soupe, v.n. i. 2114, v. 6872, vii. 4766, have supper.
souper, s. i. 2112, v. 3835, 6871,
souper time, viii. 705.
soupertime, s. viii. 711.
souple, v.a. vii. 4890, (bend), influence.
sour, a. vi. 1127, viii. 194,
the soure, vi. 336;
adv. soure, ii. 246.
source, s. i. 148, iii. 611.
soure, v.a. iii. 447, make sour;
v.n. i. 1190, turn sour.
south, s. vi. 862.
southward, adv. vii. 1255.
soutilete, see soubtilite.
soverein, sovereign, a. P. 186, i. 1609, iv. 1518, vii. 1776,
fem. sovereine, ii. 3507, vii. 1392, viii. 2530:
subst. i. 862, v. 1133,
soverain, v. 1464.
sovereinete, s. i. 1847.
sowe, v.a.n. P. 320, v. 819,
pret. siew, sieu, sew, iv. 1837, v. 1883, 3722,
pp. sowe, ii. 2376.
sowinge, s. v. 1228.
sowke, s. ii. 1079, suck.
space, s. iv. 615, 679, v. 3439, 3843.
spade, s. v. 16.
Spaine, Spaigne, i. 3390, ii. 1088, vi. 539, 569.
spanne, s. i. 1112, span.
spare, v.a. ii. 693, 3360, iii. 2220, PP. 19;
v.n. iii. 2217, iv. 439,
to spare, v. 7826.
sparinge, s. v. 4785.
sparke, s. ii. 2946, iv. 2995.
spatula, s. vi. 1311.
specefie, see specifie.
speche, s. P. 174, i. 923, 1278, iv. 875,
spieche, iv. 144.
specheles, a. i. 1293, v. 3966.
special, a., in special, P. 120, i. 1501.
specifie, specefie, v.a.n. P. 33, 866, i. 572, ii. 1407, iv. 2534.
sped, s. i. 107, 1379, ii. 115, iv. 3450,
spied, i. 1956, iv. 301, success, advantage.
spede, spiede, v.n. i. 687, 796, 2654, iv. 2280,
pret. spedde, iv. 2178, succeed, be advanced;
v.a. and refl. ii. 103, 2232, iii. 2198,
pret. spedde, ii. 624, v. 3866,
pp. sped, i. 1557, vi. 2095,
spedd, v. 1720, advance, help, hasten.
speke(n), v.n. P. 31, i. 10, 204, 1520,
3 s.pres. spekth, i. 656,
pret. spak, i. 294, 818,
pl. spieke(n), ii. 959, 1456, 2264, v. 622, vii. 1611,
speeke, viii. 749,
imperat. spek, iii. 850,
pp. spoke, i. 537, 1178,
speke, v. 5035.
spekere, s. v. 945, 1466.
spekinge, s. v. 7129*,
pl. spekynges, i. 239.
spelle, v.a. iv. 570.
spellinge, s. v. 4067.
spende, v.a. iv. 2591,
pret. spente, v. 7787.
Spercheïdos, v. 4006.
spere, s. i. 1998, ii. 3195.
Spertachus, vii. 3418.
spiece, s. vii. 888,
pl. spieces, spices, i. 2977, 3446, iii. 466, v. 5898, vi. 856, kind, spice.
spille, v.a. i. 1192, 2850, vii. 3493,
pret. spilde, ii. 948,
spilte, iii. 1446,
pp. spilt, ii. 3285, viii. 570, destroy, spill, waste;
v.n. iii. 264, iv. 2586, perish, fail.
spinne, v.a.n. v. 1283,
pp. sponne, vi. 2381, PP. 299.
spire, v.n. ii. 1146, 1999;
v.a. viii. 1472: inquire, inquire for.
spirit, s. ii. 3137, iv. 2364, viii. 2590,
pl. spiritz, iv. 2464.
spirital, spiritiel, a. ii. 2987, v. 1915;
as subst. P. 855, ii. 3492.
splen, s. vii. 449 ff.
Spodius, v. 4817.
spoke, s. vii. 815.
spore, s. P. 1084, i. 2301, iii. 1235, spur.
sporne, v.a. iv. 2115, vi. 429, kick against;
v.n. iv. 1279, vi. 464, vii. 4739, stumble.
spot, s. iv. 609, PP. 366.
spousaile, s. ii. 642,
pl. spousailes, viii. 975.
spouse, s. iii. 658, v. 6017.
spouse, v.a. vi. 497.
spousebreche, s. iii. 2158, v. 6014, adultery.
spoute, s. vii. 1193.
sprantlende, v.n. pres.part. iv. 111.
spriede, sprede, spreede, v.a.n. i. 2824, ii. 504, vi. 895,
3 s.pres. sprat, ii 417,
spredeth, v. 7679,
pret. spradde, ii. 684, iv. 1526, v. 1458,
spredde, v. 6891,
pp. sprad, iv. 3082,
spred, v. 2316; spread.
spring, s. v. 6239,
daies spring, iv. 2852.
springe(n), v.n. P. 347, i. 353, iii. 428,
pret. sprong, i. 2306, iii. 1921,
pl. spronge, i. 2085,
sprungen, v. 1595,
pp. sprongen, vii. 4679.
spume, s. v. 4122.
square, a. vi. 1327.[Pg 633]
squier, s. ii. 254,
pl. squiers, v. 2275.
stable (dore), s. iv. 903.
stable, a. iv. 268, 444, vii. 4202;
adv. iv. 3671.
stable, v.a. PP. 145, set firmly.
stacion, s. vii. 204, place.
staf, s. P. 420, v. 536, 4991.
stage, s. P. 603, iv. 2977, vii. 741.
stake, s. ii. 3094, iv. 2431, vi. 191.
stalke, v.n. i. 910, ii. 828, v. 3861, 6498, go stealthily.
stalle, s. PP. 383, place.
stalle, v.a. vii. 1162.
stalon, s. viii. 160, stallion.
stanche, staunche, v.a. P. 345, i. 2312, 2838, 3308, vi. 303, 422, quench, satisfy, heal.
stare, v.n. iv. 1832, vi. 178.
stark, adv. iv. 3082.
stat, s. ii. 2992, iii. 1998,
(staat, viii. 2990):
cp. astat.
statue, s. P. 891.
stature, s. i. 2166, 3135, iv. 744, vii. 981, stature, form; vi. 1524, statue.
statut, s. ii. 1741, v. 4551, viii. 360.
stede, s. (1) P. 274, 1074, i. 842, iii. 923, iv. 3483,
pl. stedes, iv. 718, v. 2087, place;
in stede of, P. 128, 396, i. 1669,
in the stede, ii. 2684,
in hire stede, i. 2602, iii. 1558.
stede (2), see stiede.
stedefast, a. vii. 906.
stel, see stiel.
stele, v.a.n. iv. 3333, v. 207, 3873,
pret. stal, stall, iv. 3351, v. 3900, 6750,
pp. stole(n), iv. 902, v. 6558, steal.
Stellibon, i. 398.
stelthe, s. i. 644, v. 6296, 6495 ff.
stepmoder, s. i. 1844.
stere, v.a. ii. 447, iii. 137, iv. 337, 2085, 3124, v. 1854;
v.n. v. 3064: stir, move.
steringe, s. ii. 3141, motive.
sterne, a. i. 2127, iii. 2444, iv. 2065,
sturne, viii. 403.
sterre, s. iv. 1348, v. 879, 912, vii. 1303 ff.
sterred, a. vii. 1060, viii. 2942.
sterreles, a. vii. 1024, 1126.
sterreliht, s. v. 3958, 6508,
sterre lyht, i. 1168.
sterte, v.n. iv. 336, vi. 59, vii. 3656,
pret. sterte, ii. 850, iv. 2102,
pp. stert, i. 372, start, rush, move.
sterve(n), v.n. i. 3263, ii. 36, iv. 797,
pret. sing, starf, ii. 885,
pp. storve(n), iii. 1509, v. 1999; die.
stevene, s. i. 493, 3025, iv. 847, voice, promise.
steward, see stieward.
steyne, v. ii. 1963, stain.
sticke, s. v. 4959, 5054, 5972.
stiede, stede, s. i. 2508, iv. 901, vi. 1280, steed.
stiel, s. P. 611, vi. 1814,
stel, iv. 2425, steel.
stiere, s. i. 560, 2943, ii. 709, helm, guidance.
stiere, v.a. P. 234, 1088, i. 506, 1064, 2394;
v.n. iii. 993.
stiereles, a. ii. 1393, without rudder.
stieresman, s. v. 3122.
stieward, steward, ii. 1091, 2760, v. 2669 ff, vii. 3948.
Stige, v. 1113, Styx.
stigh, see styh.
stike, v.n. iii. 1631, iv. 2723, stick.
stile, s. i. 8.
stille, a. i. 1289, iii. 932, 2738, iv. 3009, silent, quiet:
adv. P. 478, i. 886, 952, 1794, 2617, iii. 1719, quietly, in silence, always.
stille, v.a. P. 61*, vii. 1583, viii. 2636, keep still, silence, satisfy.
Stinfalides, v. 1019.
stinge, v.a. vii. 1048.
stink, s. iv. 2557.
stinte(n), v.n. iii. 1612, iv. 3453,
pret. stinte, ii. 1132,
imperat. stynt, viii. 2284, cease;
v.a. iv. 132, vi. 2005, make to cease.
stock, s. iii. 585, v. 1513, viii. 239,
stok, iv. 2868.
stod, s. vii. 3345, viii. 161, stud.
stoke(n), v.a.pp. i. 538, iv. 584, vii. 5019, shut.
stol, s. vii. 3954,
pl. stoles, P. 336, iv. 626, stool.
stomak, stomac, stomach, s. v. 1487, vi. 162, vii. 479.
stomble, v.n. iv. 621.
ston, s. P. 618, i. 1794, iv. 2523 ff.,
pl. stones, P. 953, i. 2537.
stonde, v.n. P. 84, i. 428, 1313, 3233,
3 s.pres. stant, P. 30, 118, 170, &c.,
standt, v. 5215,
pres. subj. stonde, P. 481, i. 1458,
stond, i. 3416,
pret. stod, P. 95, 214, ii. 2513,
(stood, viii. 3004*),
pl. stode(n), P. 50, 233, 798,
3 s.pret. subj. stode, P. 41, iii. 1580,
(3 pl. stodyn, viii. 3050),
imperat. stond, iv. 3244,
pp. stonde(n), i. 2930, vii. 2629; stand, remain, depend.[Pg 634]
stoppe(n), v.a. i. 475, 522, v. 3516.
stor, s. ii. 2363, store.
storie, s. v. 6002.
stormes, s.pl. i. 2987, v. 3298.
stormy, a. P. 938, iii. 686.
storve, see sterve.
stounde, s. i. 1425, ii. 2, 877, iv. 3632, time, period.
stoute, a. (pl.), v. 3507, 7282.
straght, adv. P. 1044, ii. 1482,
strawht, strauht, v. 3327, 3665.
straied, pp. viii. 2860.
strange, a. P. 604, i. 1416, 3029, ii. 2060.
strange, v.a. iv. 1489, v. 1890, 6040;
v.n. v. 4103: estrange, change; grow strange.
strangle, v.a. v. 6531, vii. 3323*.
Strangulio, viii. 545, 1290 ff.
strauht, a. vi. 772, straight.
strauht, strawht, adv. see straght.
straw, see stree.
strecche, v.a. and refl. i. 1, 622,
pret. strawhte, strauhte, ii. 1056, iii. 1407, v. 5029,
straghte, i. 2820, viii. 1150, stretch, direct;
v.n.pret. strawhte, strauhte, straghte, i. 2820, iii. 1939, v. 3338, 3923, reach, go.
stree, stre, s. iii. 85, 667, iv. 1716,
straw, v. 2310,
pl. stres, i. 2993, straw.
streit, a. v. 7655, close.
streite, streyte, adv. ii. 237, 1638, v. 261, vi. 1374, near, closely, strictly.
streite, v.a. v. 6380, diminish.
strem, s. P. 509, ii. 195, iv. 2730, stream.
strengere, strengest, see strong.
strengthe, s. P. 704, i. 787, ii. 2413, vi. 1595, strength, force, stronghold.
strengthe(n), v.a. ii. 1077, 3157, vi. 1598, vii. 2546, strengthen.
strete, s. i. 938, iii. 1338, street.
streyte, see streite.
strif, s. P. 248, 993, iii. 650.
strike, v.a. v. 3318;
v.n. viii. 1891.
strok, s. P. 426, iv. 2099, v. 2565.
stronde, s. i. 1169, ii. 758, iv. 741, shore.
strong, a. P. 716, ii. 1740, v. 7377,
def. stronge, P. 314, v. 2050,
pl. i. 1155, ii. 48, iii. 1112, iv. 2103;
comp. strengere, vii. 4087;
superl. strengest, vi. 1593:
as subst. the stronge, P. 615, vii. 4296.
strowed, v.a.pp. iv. 3022, strewn.
stryve, v.n. iii. 26, 1651, PP. 73.
studie, v.n. P. 323, i. 3091, vii. 2245.
studie, s. iv. 2662, v. 3090.
studious, a. vii. 759.
sturdi, a. viii. 403, harsh.
sturne, see sterne.
stwes, s.pl. viii. 484, stews.
styh, v.n. 3 s.pret. ii. 3401, v. 3991,
(stigh, PP. 177), ascended.
subfumigacioun, s. vi. 1310.
subgit, see soubgit.
subjeccioun (-on), s. P. 683, i. 2857, ii. 3272, v. 6409.
sublimacion, s. iv. 2517.
substance (-aunce), s. P. 199, iv. 2465, 2563, PP. 314.
substancial, a. vii. 226.
substitucion, s. vii. 2769.
such, pron.a. P. 8, i. 175, 1624, ii. 2241, iii. 2421,
swich, v. 377,
swiche, iv. 1429,
sich, viii. 1110,
pl. suche, i. 853,
swiche, ii. 504:
as subst. swich, ii. 566,
pl. suche, swiche, P. 233, 299, iv. 1236:
as adv. such, P. 735.
sucre, s. i. 1705, v. 2833, sugar.
suete, see swete.
sufficance, s. i. 4, 1915, v. 4819, ability, sufficiency.
sufficant, a. i. 1183, ii. 2700, iii. 1779, viii. 2696,
(suffisant, viii. 3099), sufficient.
suffise, suffice, v.n. P. 324, i. 1399, iii. 321, iv. 790, 1129, v. 320, vii. 5092, suffice, be able, endure.
suffrance, suffre, see soffrance, &c.
suggestioun (-on), s. i. 1014, viii. 364, 1684.
suie, v.a. i. 2256, ii. 256,
(sue, viii. 3031*);
v.n.pres.p. suiende, ii. 1591, 3526, iv. 2482,
suinge, vi. 2371: follow.
suite, s. ii. 1378, iv. 27, 1306, v. 4385 f., viii. 2930: fashion, livery; pursuit.
sulphre, soulphre, sulphur, s. iv. 2481, v. 2176, vii. 355.
Sulpices, iv. 2407.
sundri, see sondri.
suore, suote, see swere, swete.
superfluite, s. v. 2217, vi. 267.
superiour, a. iii. 2447.
supplant (-aunt), s. ii. 2368, 2374.
supplantacioun (-on), s. ii. 2327, 2937.
supplantarie, s. ii. 2322.
supplante, supplaunte, v.a. ii. 2369, 2385 ff.,
pret. supplantede, ii. 2453.
supplicacion (-oun), s. viii. 2184, 2301.
supplantour, s. ii. 2437, 3024.
support, s. vii. 3207*.
supporte, v.a. vii. 2144.
suppose, v.a.n. i. 226, 879, 2196, ii. 1018, 1174, vi. 2300;
impers. v. 22: conjecture, think; seem.
supposinges, s.pl. v. 3848, conjectures.
surfet, s. vii. 4561, excess.[Pg 635]
surgerie, s. v. 1061, vi. 1411.
surgien, s. viii. 1163.
Suriale, i. 399.
Surie, see Surrie.
surmonte, v.a. ii. 1716, v. 6738, rise above, surpass.
surquiderie, s. i. 1877, 2358.
surquidous, a. i. 2257.
surplus, s. vi. 682, rest.
Surrie, vi. 2375,
Surie, vii. 2539.
suspecion (-oun), v. 578, 7093*.
sustienance, sustenance, s. ii. 1851, iv. 2443, v. 122.
sustiene(n), v.a. vii. 476, 704,
(sustene, PP. 71).
swalwe, s. v. 6005.
swan, s. iii. 797, iv. 105.
swelle, v.n. iii. 671,
(pret. swal, i. 368*).
swerd, s. P. 242, i. 1189, iii. 3.
swere, v.a.n. i. 1462, 2765,
pret.s. swor, i. 985,
suor, v. 5930,
pp. swore, i. 1227, 1513, ii. 2536,
suore, v. 5178,
sworn, v. 4306.
swere, s. iv. 859, neck.
swerve, v.n. P. 862, ii. 2406, iv. 1216;
v.a. i. 366, iv. 1408, vii. 4569.
swete, v.n. iv. 1092, sweat.
swete, suete, a. P. 325, v. 1861,
swote, suote, i. 113, iv. 1297, v. 3999;
as subst. i. 1190, 1708, iv. 637, 3469, v. 668: sweet.
swetnesse, s. iv. 1671, vi. 395.
swevene, s. P. 596, i. 2815, iv. 3023,
swefne, i. 2851, dream.
swich(e), see such.
swift, a. v. 6005,
pl. swifte, i. 2300, iii. 2107;
superl. swiftest, i. 705:
adv. swift, vii. 859.
swimme, v.n. iv. 3096,
pret. swam, v. 4338, viii. 2653.
swinke, v.n. iv. 2440, v. 6964, labour.
swithe, adv. vi. 1655, vii. 848, viii. 930, swiftly.
swot, s. i. 1390, sweat.
swote, see swete.
swoune, adv. viii. 2449, in a swoon.
swoune, v.n. i. 983, ii. 846, iii. 233, v. 4351, 6006.
swoune, s. viii. 2859,
in swoune, on swoune, v. 3647, 5788,
a swoune, viii. 1060,
cp. aswoune.
swyn, s.(pl.) v. 6894, vii. 1166.
syh, syhte, see se, sihte.
syke, see sike.
Synon, i. 1172.
sythe, see sithe.
T
tabate (= to abate), ii. 809.
table, s. iv. 3672, viii. 630, tablet, plank.
tacompte (= to accompte), i. 650, 2241.
tail, s. i. 475, vii. 987 ff.
taillage, s. vi. 1501, vii. 4045, taxation.
taille, s. v. 1923, tally.
take(n), v.a. P. 122, 497, i. 1011, iii. 1970,
3 s.pres. takth, P. 205,
tath, v. 48, vii. 1074,
(3 pl. takyn, viii. 2988),
pret. tok, P. 229, i. 421, ii. 2243,
2 s. tok, i. 2421,
pl. toke(n), P. 810, i. 1162,
tok, v. 7534,
pret. subj. toke, i. 383,
imperat. tak, i. 447, 1317,
take, v. 6429,
pp. take(n), P. 130, i. 1107, take, give;
v.n. P. 54, prevail;
refl. and n. iii. 1063, iv. 2385, v. 1262, betake (oneself).
takel, s. iii. 989, viii. 470, tackle.
tale, s. P. 82, 573, i. 650,
pl. tales, i. 1283, ii. 312, tale, reckoning, speech.
tale(n), v.n. P. 425, ii. 47, iv. 1178, v. 3772, speak.
talent, s. v. 7136, inclination.
Taliart, viii. 505, 513.
talke, v.n. ii. 2093.
tall, a. v. 2476, comely.
Taltabius, iii. 1928.
tame, a. P. 1058, i. 3031, v. 1017.
tame, v.a. iv. 1886, v. 1024, vii. 1844.
tant ne quant, ii. 2430.
Tantaly, v. 365.
tapinage, s. v. 1810, skulking.
tarie, v.a. i. 452, iv. 1499, 3450, viii. 2924, vex, delay;
v.n. i. 1645, ii. 825, iv. 8, delay.
tariinge, tariynge, s. iv. 35, 1184, v. 3633.
Tarquinus, Tarquin, vii. 4595 ff., viii. 2634.
Tartarie, s. iv. 1631.
tasse, s. v. 4400, 4958, collection, heap.
tasse, v.a. vii. 4484.
tast, s. i. 1191, v. 7144, taste, touch.
taste, v.a.n. iv. 2546, v. 7792, vii. 1944, viii. 1186, taste, perceive, try.
tastinge, s. vi. 302, 942.
Taurus, vii. 1015, 1267.
taverne, s. ii. 3098.
taxe, s. i. 1556, engagement.
taxe, v.a. P. 267, i. 3108, ii. 334, vii. 3905, viii. 361, tax, appoint.[Pg 636]
teche, v.a.n. P. 417, i. 229, 2260,
pret. tawhte, tauhte, ii. 754, iii. 2543, v. 3583,
tawht, iii. 176,
taghte, P. 361, viii. 663,
pp. tawht, tauht, i. 2253, v. 6074,
taught, v. 7015*.
Techel, v. 7023.
techer, s. vii. 1520.
techyng, techinge, i. 1592, v. 611.
teene, tene, s. i. 3399, iii. 772, v. 5483, sorrow.
Tegea, v. 6242.
teide, v.a.pret. i. 2311,
pp. teid, v. 52, tied.
teise, v.a. v. 6331, stretch.
telle(n), v.a.n. P. 82, 168, i. 66, 400, 3297, iii. 450, iv. 1693,
3 s.pres. telth, v. 6126,
pret. tolde(n), P. 599, i. 2109, vii. 1622,
told, i. 3187, ii. 884,
imperat. tell, i. 164, 1254,
pp. telleth, i. 1395; tell, say, speak, name.
tellinge, s. iii. 506.
tempeste, s. i. 2142, ii. 1907, iii. 2739, iv. 3063.
tempeste, v.a. v. 1184, disturb.
temple, s. i. 800, iii. 1993, v. 1313,
the temple flor, viii. 1855.
temples, s.pl. viii. 2819, temples (of the head).
temporal, a. ii. 2988, vii. 94;
as subst. P. 854, ii. 3491.
tempre, v.a. i. 23, ii. 3178, v. 3802, viii. 778,
pp. as adj. tempred, iv. 2521; mingle, temper, restrain, tune.
temprure, s. P. 1055, viii. 832, harmony, tuning.
tempte, v.a. ii. 3139, iii. 711, vii. 5337.
Temse, P. 39*, Thames.
ten, num. P. 526, ii. 52, 2063, iv. 475.
tendre, a. i. 779, ii. 3175, iv. 1362, vi. 1514,
tender, vii. 3382, tender, delicate.
tendre, v.a. i. 2172, soften;
v.n. ii. 3289, grow tender.
tendresse (-esce), ii. 1073, 2165, vii. 4975, affection, care, softness.
tene, see teene.
tenetz, s. PP. 295, tennis.
tente, s. ii. 2635, iv. 2431.
tenthe, a. vii. 1169, 1387.
tere, v.a. iii. 2010,
pp. tore, P. 413, i. 1154, tear.
teres, s.pl. i. 1680, vii. 4835, tears.
Tereüs, v. 5569 ff., viii. 2585.
terme, s. iii. 2411.
Termegis, iv. 2408.
termine, v.a. ii. 272, bring to a conclusion.
terremote, s. vi. 2207, 2261.
Tersites, vii. 3585.
teschuie (= to eschuie), vii. 3247, teschue, PP. 64.
testament, s. P. 245, vii. 3860, viii. 2955*, PP. 177.
tete, s. ii. 3227, teat.
text, s. i. 271.
thaddre (= the addre), v. 3528.
thaffeccioun (= the affeccioun), P. 366.
thair (= the air), v. 3993.
Thaise, Thayse, Taise, viii. 1295 ff.,
Thaïsis, viii. 1536.
thalemans (= the Alemans), P. 821.
thalter (the alter), vii. 4707.
Thamar, viii. 215.
thamende (= thee amende), i. 568.
Thameris, vii. 3445.
thank, see thonk.
thankworth, a. i. 2405.
thanne, than, adv. P. 48, i. 183,
as thanne, iii. 2005, then;
conj. P. 57, i. 973, 1927, than.
thapocalips (= the apocalips), v. 6389.
thapostel (= the apostel), P. 434, v. 1953,
thapostle, vii. 3149*.
thapparence (= the apparence), iv. 3053.
thar, impers. ii. 2430, vii. 2344, it behoves;
pers. tharst, iv. 1774,
thar, iv. 3180, ought.
Tharbis, iv. 650 ff.
tharmes, s.pl. P. 608, intestines.
Tharse, viii. 542 ff.
Tharsiens, pl. viii. 597.
thassay (= the assay), v. 3239.
thassent (= the assent), ii. 1479.
thassise (= the assise), P. 148.
thastat (= the astat), i. 2100.
thastronomie (= the astronomie), vi. 1403.
that, dem.pron. and a. P. 122, 689, 725,
that on ... that other, P. 649, i. 397,
that Remus, that Diane, v. 899, 1249,
that (= that which), P. 3, 21, i. 298, 603, &c.;
pl. tho, P. 48, i. 299, 1273,
that ilke tuo, i. 1271:
relat. P. 1, 15, 39, 42:
conj. P. 4, 8, 13, 20, i. 439, ii. 2640,
if that, P. 16,
whan that, P. 37,
who that, what that, P. 13, 460, iii. 1879,
that (= take care that), ii. 2872,
that I ne hadde, &c. (a wish), iv. 1422, v. 3747.[Pg 637]
thavantages (= the avantages), v. 1978.
thaverous (= the averous), v. 57.
the, def. art. P. 2, 72, 260, &c.,
the more, the betre, &c., P. 55*, i. 1543, 2322 f.
Thebes, i. 338, 1992.
Thebith, vi. 1322.
thebreus (= the Hebreus), vii. 3054, 4421.
theder, see thider.
theffect (= the effect), iv. 1759.
thefte, s. v. 944, 6088.
Theges, iv. 2403.
thegipcienes (= the Egipcienes), v. 811, 821,
thegipciens, vii. 3055.
thei, they, pron. P. 159, 424, &c.
their (= the eir), iii. 1215, viii. 3009*.
Thelacuse, iv. 452.
Thelamacus, Thelamachus, iv. 1851, vi. 1757 ff.,
Thelamachum, vi. 1587.
Thelamon, v. 7216, viii. 2515.
Thelaphus, Telaphus, iii. 2642 ff.
thelement, thelementz (= the element, &c.), v. 759, vii. 441.
Thelogonus, vi. 1619 ff.
Thelcüs, ii. 1092.
thembuisschementz (= the embuisschementz), vii. 3476.
themperour (= the emperour), i. 762, ii. 1196.
thempire (= the empire), P. 767, i. 1482.
thencress (= the encress), v. 3941.
thende (= the ende), P. 883.
thenemis (= the enemis), vii. 4355.
thenke (1), v.n. P. 23, 77, 193, 1076,
thinke, v. 213, vi. 198,
3 s.pres. thenkth, i. 2687,
thenketh, i. 657,
pret. thoghte, i. 811, 1571, 2106,
(thoughte, viii. 2965),
imperat. thenk, iii. 225, v. 5217,
thenke, iii. 1083;
v.a. ii. 2195,
(cp. i. 657), iii. 559: think.
thenke (2), impers.,
3 s.pres. thenkth, P. 260, i. 1700, thenketh, i. 569, thinketh, v. 254,
pret. thoghte, P. 603, i. 346, 929, ii. 1374; seem.
thenne, fro thenne, adv. i. 2637, iv. 98, vi. 1046, thence.
thensample (= the ensample), vii. 3552.
thensamplerie (= the ensamplerie), vii. 3858.
thenvious (= the envious), ii. 1728.
theologie, s. vii. 70, 131.
Theophilus, Theophile, viii. 1359, 1500.
theorique, s. vii. 31, 134 ff., 624.
ther, there, adv. P. 46, 115, i. 725, iii. 60, 236, there, in that matter:
conj. P. 389, i. 1317, 1732, iii. 311, 807, iv. 169, where, whereas;
ther(e) as, i. 1282, ii. 114,
ther while, iv. 760.
theraboute, adv. vii. 4761, about it.
therat, adv. i. 600,
therate, iv. 1534, vi. 1674.
therayein (ȝ), adv. i. 1018, iii. 357, against it.
therbage (= the herbage), s. iii. 1397.
Therbellis, vii. 3291.
therby, adv. i. 330, iii. 400,
therbi, iv. 1462,
ther by, iii. 768.
there, see ther.
therfore, P. 2, i. 1514, ii. 1454,
therfor, ii. 534,
therefore, vii. 796,
(ther fore, viii. 2954 ff.).
therfro, adv. iii. 960, iv. 1216.
therinne, adv. i. 824, 2192,
thrinne, iii. 315, v. 7345,
ther inne, iv. 1658.
therof, adv. P. 120, i. 732, 1315.
theroute, adv. i. 2818, iii. 2472,
therout, v. 4158, out there, out.
therthe (= the erthe), i. 3265, v. 825.
therto, adv. P. 1056, i. 421, 1291, 2055, ii. 1635, to it, moreover.
therupon, adv. P. 815, i. 841, 2697, vi. 1321,
(ther uppon, viii. 3046).
therwhile, adv. iv. 1708, meanwhile;
conj. P. 962, ii. 2716,
therwhiles that, P. 673, v. 3474,
ther while(s), ther whyles, iii. 1903, vi. 1478, vii. 2985, while.
these, see this.
Thesëus, v. 5310 ff., viii. 2511, 2557.
Thessaile, v. 4018.
thessamplerie (= the essamplerie), vii. 2318.
thestat (= the estat), P. 202.
Thetis, v. 2961 ff.
Theucer, iii. 2645 ff., iv. 3516.
thevangile (= the evangile), vi. 977.
thevenynge (= the evenynge), v. 3886.
thew, s. vi. 105,
pl. thewes, vii. 43, habit, manner.
thewed, a.,
wel thewed, i. 273, 639, vii. 3788, of good disposition.
thexperience (= the experience), P. 331, v. 764.
thextremetes (= the extremetes), iv. 2565.
thi, thin, poss. pron. i. 165, 449, iv. 3220;
disj. thin, i. 949,
thyne (pl.), i. 168.
thider, adv. ii. 707, 789, &c.,
theder, v. 7476.
thiderward, adv. iii. 1044, 1622.
thidoles (= the idoles), v. 1955.[Pg 638]
thief, s. i. 319, iii. 2388,
pl. thieves, v. 603.
thikke, a. v. 5971, vii. 186, thick.
thilke, pron. P. 16, i. 804, 2410, ii. 3056;
as subst. i. 2548.
thing, s. P. 34, 686, i. 792,
thyng, P. 930,
pl. thinges, P. 255, i. 1265, &c.,
alle thinge, ii. 557, v. 1246, 3885, vii. 80,
othre thing, i. 574.
thinke, see thenke.
thinne, a. i. 1787, viii. 2827, thin.
thinspeccion (= the inspeccion), vi. 1349.
this, pron. and a. P. 11, 27, 276, 481, iv. 1365,
pl. these, P. 7, 900, &c.,
thes, ii. 475, 3319.
thiself, pron. i. 1615, ii. 2441, iv. 267.
tho, pron. see that.
tho, adv. P. 3, 94 ff., i. 809, iv. 1358, then:
conj. viii. 1466, when.
Thoas, v. 1831 ff.
Thobie, vii. 5357 ff.
thoccident (= the occident), P. 720.
thoffice (= the office), i. 242, v. 1921.
thogh, conj. P. 61, 402, &c.,
as thogh, P. 270, i. 2013,
though, i. 1283, ii. 962,
all thogh, iv. 269,
cp. althogh.
thoght, s. i. 195, 1568,
thought, ii. 66,
pl. thoghtes, i. 721,
thoughtes, vi. 198.
tholde (= the olde), v. 7007.
thole, v.a. v. 6770, suffer.
Tholome, Tholomeüs, vi. 1403, vii. 1043, 1201, 1459, Ptolemy (the astronomer).
Thomas (the apostle), v. 1909.
thombe, s. ii. 468.
thonder, thondre, thunder, s. i. 2002, iii. 455, vii. 4401, viii. 1000.
thonderstrok, s. vii. 307.
thondre, v.n. iii. 985.
thonk, s. P. 72*, i. 738, 816, 1119, 2650,
thank, ii. 60, 2012, gratitude, thanks, reward:
his thonkes, v. 2507, by his own will.
thonke, v.a.n. i. 961, 2664, 3346, ii. 773, 1517, thank, give thanks.
thonkinge, s. ii. 3317, vii. 1933.
thonkles, a. vii. 2134, without thanks.
thonour (= the honour), i. 1719, iv. 2142.
Thophis, v. 6817.
thordre (= the ordre), viii. 3021.
thorghsese, v.a. iv. 210, take hold of.
thorient (= the orient), P. 719.
thorizonte (= the orizonte), vii. 694.
thorn, s. i. 603, vi. 928,
pl. thornes, P. 412.
thorst, see thurst.
Thosz, vi. 1314.
thother (= the other), ii. 1740, vii. 378 (pl.).
thou, thow, i. 124, 174, obl. the, thee, i. 436, 448, 1545.
though, thought, see thogh, thoght.
thousend, thousand, num. i. 1153, ii. 500, iii. 59, iv. 720, 3034.
thousendel, s. i. 728, iii. 468, thousandth part, thousand times.
thousendfold, iv. 3023, v. 2602, vii. 3438.
thral, s. v. 54, vi. 74.
thre, num. i. 406, 3097.
thred, s. i. 1419, v. 5343, thread.
threde, v.a. vi. 558.
threste, v.a.pret. iv. 135, v. 6381, thrust.
threte, v.a. iii. 2124, threaten.
thretty, see thritty.
thridde, a. i. 400, 1884;
as subst. iv. 552.
thries, adv. ii. 2897, v. 3593, thrice.
thrift, s. vii. 3161, prosperity.
thrinne, see therinne.
thritiene, num. vii. 1410, thirteen.
thritty (-ti), num. v. 7311, vii. 3637,
thretty, viii. 438, thirty.
throghes, see throwe, s. (2).
throne, s. vii. 2418, 2449, PP. 378.
throng, v.a.pret. vii. 5069, thrust.
throstle, s. i. 355.
throte, s. ii. 831, v. 1470, throat.
throwe, s. (1) P. 566, i. 117, 410, 2297, ii. 1587, time, short time.
throwe, s. (2) iii. 1130, iv. 97,
pl. throwes, vii. 3559,
throghes, vii. 5401, throe, pang.
throwe(n), v.a. iii. 788, iv. 1274, v. 3609,
pret. threw, i. 145,
pp. throwe(n), i. 27, ii. 243, 2158.
thryve, v.n. iv. 2345, 2592, vii. 262, 2799.
thunchaste (= the unchaste), vii. 5301.
thunder, see thonder.
thunkinde (= the unkinde), viii. 222.
thunsemlieste (= the unsemlieste), a.superl. i. 1625.
thurgh, prep. P. 49, i. 827, 2952, through, by reason of:
adv. v. 3581, 3635, all over, thoroughly.
thurghknowe, pp. i. 2847, thoroughly known.
thurghout, prep. ii. 2748, 2873, through;
adv. ii. 2245, v. 3655, thoroughly.
thurghseche, v.a.,
pp. thurghsoght, thorghsoght, i. 1895, iv. 636, viii. 2045, 2247; seek through, penetrate, resolve.
thurghsmite, v.a.pp. vii. 4853.
thurst, thorst, s. i. 2308, v. 377, vi. 237,
pl. thurstes, vi. 394.
thurste, v.n. vi. 262;
impers. v. 254, 384.[Pg 639]
thursti, a. vi. 439.
thus, adv. P. 52, i. 761.
thyle (= the yle), v. 1071.
thymage, thymages (= the ymage, &c.), v. 5791, 7541.
thyne, see thi.
Tiberie Constantin, ii. 590.
Tiberius (1), i. 762.
Tiberius (2), vii. 3281.
Tibre, i. 1042, v. 2206.
tide, tyde, s. P. 27, i. 150, 860, 1731, 2715, ii. 1883, iii. 1024, v. 139, vii. 972, time, tide, season.
tidinge, tyding(e), s. i. 450, iii. 444, iv. 2962, v. 3322,
pl. tidinges, tidynges, i. 2761, iv. 178.
tigre, s. iv. 1977, vi. 1450, vii. 4944.
til, prep. ii. 902, vii. 397, viii. 2841, to:
conj. P. 597, i. 1333,
til that, P. 677, iv. 2890,
til whanne, iv. 1262, until.
tile, v.a. iv. 2441, v. 328, till.
tilinge, s. v. 1227, tilling.
tilthe, s. v. 1238, 1882, 4304, crop, cultivation.
timber, tymber, s. v. 2158, 2168.
timberwerk, s. v. 2179.
time, tyme, s. P. 5, 701, i. 839, 2379, 2846, ii. 805, iv. 615, 3401, v. 3641.
time, v.a. ii. 2238, aim.
tirannie, tirannye, s. P. 49, ii. 1721, v. 5921,
tyrannyes, (pl.) v. 988,
tirandie, tiraundie, P. 756, iii. 1117,
(tirandise, viii. 3076).
tirannyssh, a. vii. 4594,
tirannysshe, vii. 4889.
tirant, a. v. 5627, vii. 1889,
(subst. tiraunt, PP. 48).
tire, v.n. vi. 817, pull.
Tiresias, iii. 363, 749.
Tisbee, iii. 1374 ff., 1663, viii. 2578.
title, s. PP. 12.
titled, v.a.pp. iv. 2468, assigned.
to, prep. P. 10, 67, i. 1554, ii. 158, v. 5724;
with gerund, P. 33, 133, ii. 511, iv. 2373, viii. 1393, cp. forto:
adv. (1) to ... fro, P. 569, i. 1571, 2067; (2) P. 81, i. 1063, too;
cp. tomoche, tolite.
to, prefix, see to plihte.
tobete, v.a.pp. iii. 122, beaten to pieces.
toblowe, v.a.pp. viii. 1949, blown about.
tobreide, v.a.pret. iv. 1535, rent.
tobreke, v.a. i. 1068, 1420, 2650,
pret. tobrak, ii. 1825,
pp. tobroke, P. 390, i. 1154, break in pieces;
v.n. iv. 359,
3 s.pres. tobrekth, P. 505,
pret. tobrak, vi. 2226,
pl. tobrieken, vii. 3476, break (in pieces), break forth.
toclef, v.n.pret. viii. 626, parted asunder.
todrawe, v.a.,
3 pl. pret. todrowhe, i. 378,
pp. todrawe, i. 513, iii. 1405, tear asunder.
tofore, prep. P. 1, i. 2134, iii. 2052, &c.,
tofor, i. 518, iii. 2053, 2375, before, in presence of:
adv. P. 822, i. 2948,
ther tofore, i. 1153,
hier t., i. 2787,
now t., i. 1867,
toforn, ii. 2128, before, formerly.
togedre, adv. P. 648, i. 1102, ii. 137,
al togedre, P. 984.
tohewe, v.a. iv. 1547,
toheewe, (pp.) v. 5899, hew in pieces.
tokne, s. P. 638, i. 873, 1174, 2211, iii. 804,
that in tokne, P. 907.
tokne, v.a. P. 601, betoken.
tokninge, s. v. 5765.
tolyte, tolite, s. i. 19, iv. 2621, vii. 3847,
to lite, iii. 581, too little.
tombe, see tumbe.
tome, s. ii. 2680, (leisure), opportunity.
tome (= to me), i. 294, ii. 3160, viii. 2386.
tomoche, s. i. 19, iv. 2621, v. 7689,
to moche, iii. 591, too much.
tomorwe, adv. iii. 2399, iv. 9, vii. 3668.
tonge, see tunge.
tonne, s. P. 504, iii. 1210, v. 1677, vi. 333,
tunne, viii. 2253.
tonsure, s. viii. 482.
too, s. v. 472,
pl. ton, P. 876, toe.
toose, v.a. P. 400, shear.
Topazion, vii. 1406.
to plihte, v.a.pret. v. 850, pulled in pieces.
topseilcole, s. v. 3119, viii. 1890.
topulled, v.a.pp. i. 565, pulled asunder.
torche, s. iv. 3651, v. 3846.
tormente, v.a. i. 2989, iv. 412.
torne, v.a. P. 273, i. 1537, 2267, 2408,
(pp. turnyd, viii. 2956);
refl. i. 1792, iv. 2112;
v.n. P. 463, 591, i. 3265, v. 312,
(turne, PP. 95): turn, return.
torneie, tourneie, v.n. i. 2515, vi. 1850, tourney.
tornement, s. i. 2509.
torninge, tornynge, s. P. 138, iii. 85.
torof, v.n.pret. viii. 617, was torn to pieces.
to sondre, see sondre.
tosprad, pp. v. 3964.
toswal, v.n.pret. v. 6252,
pp. toswolle, vi. 1467.
tote, v.n. v. 470, vi. 819, spy, gaze.[Pg 640]
toth, s. P. 325,
pl. teeth, teth, ii. 411, v. 3523, tooth.
tothe (= to the), iv. 1875.
tothrowe, v.a. vii. 5257, throw aside.
totore, pp. P. 414, i. 1723, iv. 1355, torn in pieces.
touche, touch, s. v. 269, 315, 6278, 7147.
touche, v.a. P. 58, i. 313, ii. 2057, iv. 667, v. 275, touch, concern;
touchende, i. 742, 3441, concerning:
v.n. i. 241, ii. 527, iv. 3016, have concern, treat;
touchende of, P. 481, i. 1232,
(as) touchinge of, i. 2721, viii. 2993*,
touchende to, i. 1338, 1971, concerning.
touchinge, s. iii. 84.
toun, s. P. 839, i. 802, iii. 454, 1380,
to toune, ii. 1354,
in toune, ii. 2103.
tour, s. P. 1019, ii. 3027, iv. 818, tower.
tourneie, see torneie.
tow, s. v. 5623.
toward, prep. i. 456, 638, 1136, 2103, 2284, 3032, ii. 1384, viii. 2077,
towardes, P. 78, i. 747, iii. 1090, to, towards, with regard to, near:
toward Troie, iii. 2643, on the way to T.
towh, a. vi. 722, tough.
Trace, v. 1198, 5569, 5832, Thrace.
trace, v.a. vi. 1328.
traiteresse, s. v. 4620.
traiterie, s. iii. 2211, viii. 1779, treason.
trance, traunce, s. i. 1800, iii. 1457, viii. 1367, 2813.
trance, v. iv. 2115, trample (?).
transforme, v.a. i. 2971, ii. 194, iv. 501.
translate, v.a. ii. 3044,
3 pl. pret. translateden, iv. 2660, change, translate.
transpose, v.a. iv. 2656, translate.
trapped, v.a.pp. i. 1133, v. 2708, furnished with trap-doors, entrapped.
traunce, see trance.
travail(l), s. ii. 1009, iv. 1105, 1604 ff.,
travaile, iv. 2663, labour.
travaile, v.n. P. 78*, i. 2658, ii. 266, 641, 2533, viii. 1050, labour, travail;
refl. iii. 584, v. 110; labour, strive:
v.a. ii. 3314, iv. 428, 1893, trouble, cause to labour, iii. 1205, travel about.
travers, s. viii. 3158, obstacle.
tre, tree, s. i. 1319, 2818, iv. 3593,
pl. tres, trees, P. 935, ii. 2298.
treble, a. vii. 1755, 2366.
trede, v. viii. 2682.
tregetour, s. ii. 1873, juggler.
treigne, s. vii. 4456, snare.
treine, s. iv. 621, train (of a robe).
treis, s. i. 2963, three, (or one, two, three).
tremble, v.n. ii. 2622, iii. 190;
v.a. vii. 5104.
tresced, a. vii. 4881.
tresces, tresses, s.pl. v. 5464, 5686.
treson, tresoun, s. i. 1659, ii. 1185, 2945, vii. 1563.
tresor, s. P. 316, i. 2633, v. 69,
tresour, ii. 3305, treasure.
tresorer, s. ii. 3304.
tresorie, s. v. 134, 1922.
trespas, s. vii. 3327.
tresses, see tresces.
trete(n), v.n. P. 77, i. 7, 1099, ii. 3201, iii. 1831;
v.a. ii. 1686: treat, deal, deal with.
tretee, s.v. 5258, treaty.
tretour, s. iii. 2096, viii. 1937, traitor.
trewe, trew, a. P. 184, i. 702, 1198, iii. 2228, 2346, v. 2877, 7391, true;
superl. the treweste, ii. 1282.
trewes, s.pl. iv. 2708, truce.
trewly, trewli, treuly, i. 1650, iii. 66, iv. 921, v. 2536, 3454,
trewely, ii. 2018, iv. 1649,
trewliche, i. 1336, truly.
trewman, s. vii. 1640.
tribe, s. vii. 4118, viii. 136.
tribut, s. i. 2795, iv. 2159, v. 5365.
tricherie, s. i. 828, ii. 812, iv. 2078.
tricherous, a. ii. 3019.
Tricolonius, v. 1239.
trie, trye, v.a. ii. 3420, iv. 2456, v. 2895, vi. 1204, vii. 42, separate, purify, test.
trinite, s. i. 3276, vii. 77.
triste, v.a.n. i. 1947, ii. 492, 1160,
truste, v. 2898,
pret. triste, i. 1983, 2573, 2874,
troste, i. 1739,
truste, v. 3894; trust.
tristesce, s. iv. 3396, 3432.
Tristram, vi. 471, viii. 2500.
Triton, v. 1192.
Trocinie, iv. 2928.
Troian, vii. 3144, Trajan.
Troie, i. 1078 ff., ii. 2452, iii. 974 ff., 1757, 1885 ff., 2643, iv. 81, 147 ff., 772 ff., 1696, 1820 ff., 1903 ff., 2143, 2152, v. 1003, 1833, 2551, 3071, 3303, 5281, 6455, 7197 ff., vi. 1391, 1416, vii. 3585, viii. 2517, 2570, 2625;
newe Troye, P. 37*,
tale of (bok of) T., i. 483, iii. 971, v. 3245, vii. 1559.
Troiens, pl. v. 1839, 7211, vii. 3056.
Troieward, iv. 732, v. 6450.
Troilus, ii. 2457, iv. 2795, v. 7597, viii. 2531.
trompe, s. i. 2128, ii. 2866, vii. 3763.
trompen, v.n. i. 2139, sound a trumpet.
trompette, s. vii. 3744, trumpet.
trosse, see trusse.[Pg 641]
trouble, a. v. 4160;
as subst. vi. 360: turbid.
trouble, v.a. vi. 362;
v.n. trowble, viii. 3009*.
trowe, v.a. P. 512, v. 580, 1925, believe;
v.n. i. 1925, 2691, iii. 531, believe, think.
trowthe, trouthe, s. P. 154, 488, i. 746, 1559, 1588, iv. 2747, v. 4363, vi. 2285, vii. 1724 ff.,
trouthe plight, vii. 4228,
pl. trowthes, i. 822: truth, assurance, loyalty.
truage, s. iv. 2175, v. 1553, 1726, tribute, subjection.
truandise, s. iv. 2767, laziness.
truantz, s.pl. iv. 342, idlers.
truffle, s. viii. 2062, trifle.
trusse, v.a. i. 2634, iv. 1398, pack.
trusse, trosse, s. v. 4966, v. 5056, vii. 3253*, bundle.
trust, s. P. 91, i. 3154, ii. 769, iii. 281,
trist, iii. 2754, v. 2133.
truste, see triste.
Tubal, iv. 2425.
tuelfthe, see twelfthe.
tuelve, see twelve.
Tullius, iv. 2648, vi. 1401, vii. 1589, 3163*, viii. 3119.
tumbe, tombe, s. iv. 3665, viii. 1527, 1581, tomb.
tun, s. viii. 830, tune.
tunder, s. ii. 1274, tinder.
tunderstonde (= to understonde), ii. 815.
tunge, s. P. 61*, i. 678, ii. 1602, iv. 2639,
tonge, iii. 1799, tongue, language.
(false) tunged, a. ii. 1751.
tunne, see tonne.
tuo, two, num. P. 336, i. 810, 2041, v. 188,
bothe tuo, P. 1068, i. 851.
turne, see torne.
Turne, iv. 2186.
turves, s.pl. v. 4031.
tweie, num. P. 18, i. 1344, v. 3610,
tweine, tueine, ii. 3472, v. 4040, two.
twelfthe, tuelfthe, a. vii. 1215, 1402.
twelve, tuelve, num. P. 158, 526, i. 1134, ii. 97.
twenty, num. iv. 1356, vii. 1227.
twinklinge, twinclinge, s. i. 3033, v. 5935.
twinne, v.a. iii. 423;
v.n. ii. 2293: separate, be separated.
twinnes, s.pl. vii. 1033, twins.
two, see tuo.
twyes, adv. v. 4094, twice.
tyde, s. see tide.
tyde, v.n. v. 3755, happen.
tyding(e), see tidinge.
tye, s. v. 3559, case.
tyh, v.n.pret. v. 5709, came.
tymber (1), see timber.
tymber (2), vi. 1844, timbrel.
tyme, see time.
tymliche, adv. iv. 3163.
Tymolus, v. 6831.
Typhon, v. 798 ff.
Tyr, viii. 375 ff.
tyrannye, see tirannie.
tyt, adv. v. 5769, vi. 1751, quickly.
U
Uluxes, Ulixes, Ulixe, i. 516 ff., iv. 147, 1818 ff., v. 3099 ff., 3201, vi. 1392 ff., viii. 2623.
umbreide, v.a. v. 5034, reproach.
unable, a. vii. 585, 3275, useless, incapable.
unaffiled, a. i. 2287, untrained.
unansuerd, a. ii. 2706.
unaperceived, a. v. 6271,
unaparceived, v. 7147*.
unaquit, a. ii. 3332, unrewarded.
unarme, v.a. v. 3803.
unarmed, a. vii. 3589.
unarraied, a. vii. 2659, in disorder.
unavanced, a. v. 2328.
unavised, a. or adv. i. 2701, iii. 1097, iv. 1241, unwise, unwisely.
unbegunne, a. viii. 1, without beginning.
unbehovely, a. vii. 1134, viii. 2884, unprofitable, unfit.
unbende, v.a.pret. i. 1967, unbent.
unbesein, a. viii. 153, devoid.
unbinde, v.a. viii. 2812,
pp. unbounde, v. 159.
unbore, unborn, a. i. 3164, iv. 3221, v. 1748.
unbounde, a. v. 7734.
unbuxom, a. i. 1255, 1272, disobedient.
unbuxomly, unbuxomliche, adv. i. 1368, vii. 3569, rebelliously.
unbuxomnesse, s. i. 1394, disobedience.
unchaste, see thunchaste.
unclene, a. ii. 575, unclean.
unclennesse, s. vii. 474.
unclose, v.a. v. 2376, open.
unclothe, v.refl. v. 3494.
uncoupled, v.a.pp. i. 2298.
uncouth, a. v. 5694.
undefendid, a. PP. 223, not forbidden.
under, prep. P. 108, i. 27, 1104, undur,[Pg 642]
v. 1573, (undir, viii. 3060, PP. 39):
adv. P. 76, i. 2237, ii. 418.
underfonge, v.a. P. 68, iv. 206, viii. 1486,
pret. underfing, v. 7182*, pp.
underfonge, i. 63, ii. 1751, iv. 418,
(undirfongen, PP. 264), receive, accept.
undergete, v.pp. ii. 1133, come under.
underling, s. vi. 2350, vii. 1294.
undernethe, prep. ii. 2933;
adv. v. 3130.
undersette, v.a. v. 2157, support.
understonde, v.a.n. P. 206, 481, i. 46,
pret. understod, i. 1798,
(undirstod, PP. 150),
pret. subj. understode, P. 460, i. 2774,
imperat. understond, i. 1882, ii. 3132,
pp. understonde, P. 34*.
understondinge, s. iii. 1950, vi. 972, understanding, significance.
undertake, v.a.n. i. 2020, 3232, iv. 1967, v. 2340,
(undirtake, PP. 159),
pret. undertok, v. 2130,
(undirtok, viii. 3107),
pl. undertoke, v. 2077,
pp. undertake, P. 241, i. 1108, undertake, take in hand, declare.
undeserved, a. i. 51, vi. 358.
undo(n), v.a.n. i. 2855, iii. 690,
pret. undede, v. 2380,
imperat. undo, ii. 2483,
pp. undo, ii. 1016, v. 7450.
undoinge, s. vii. 4099.
undren, s. v. 3669.
unenvied, a. P. 115.
unethes, adv. P. 846, i. 1221,
unethe, iii. 2536,
noght (ne) ... unethes, iv. 570, 3478,
unnethes, vii. 5033, hardly.
unevene, a. P. 803, v. 4547:
adv. P. 170, iii. 14.
unfolde, v.a. iv. 686.
ungentilesce, s. iv. 845.
unglad, a. ii. 234, 3117,
pl. unglade, ii. 3287.
unglade, v.a. v. 5680.
ungoode, a.pl. P. 489, viii. 239.
ungoodly, a. v. 6136,
ungoodlich, v. 6293;
superl. def. ungoodlieste, iii. 422.
unhapp, s. ii. 3085, iii. 1466,
pl. unhappes, iv. 1024.
unhappely, adv. i. 376.
unhappi, a. ii. 2280, iii. 1390, v. 5685, unfortunate, ill-omened.
unholpe, a. v. 1862, unhelped.
unholy, a. v. 7021*.
unhorsed, v.a.pp. iii. 2658.
unite, s. P. 987, vii. 78, unity.
universiel, universal, a. vi. 2261, vii. 215.
unjoynted, v.a.pp. iv. 274.
unkemd, vii. 5023, uncombed.
unkendeli, a. ii. 3124, unnatural:
cp. unkindeliche.
unkest, a. ii. 467,
unkist, iv. 2712, unkissed.
unkinde, unkynde, a. i. 2565, iii. 374, 2055, iv. 849,
thunkinde, viii. 222, unnatural, ungrateful.
unkinde, s. viii. 222.
unkindeliche, adv. iii. 375, 2066,
unkindely, iii. 2065, viii. 2005, 2558, unnaturally, unkindly.
unkindenesse, s. v. 5141.
unkindeschipe, s. ii. 3103, v. 4699, 4887 ff.
unkist, see unkest.
unknet, v.a.pp. ii. 2372, v. 556, vii. 4828.
unknowe(n), a. P. 319, ii. 467, v. 1251, unknown; ii. 1105, v. 3148, not knowing.
unliche, unlich, unlike, a. v. 4415, vi. 1862, vii. 133, unequal, unlike, superior.
unliered, unlered, a. P. 233, iv. 611, untaught.
unloke, v.a.pp. P. 654, iii. 425, viii. 424, unlocked.
unlust, s. viii. 481, sorrow.
unlusti, a. ii. 1308, unhappy.
unmerciable, a. iii. 216, unmerciful.
unmete, unmeete, a. ii. 122, iii. 1100, iv. 3573, vii. 5030, unequalled, unworthy, far apart:
adv. v. 2140, beyond comparison.
unmyhti, a. v. 1502, unable.
unmylde, a. i. 1242.
unpeysed, a. P. 64*, unweighed.
unpike, v.a. v. 6509, unfasten.
unpinned, pp. iii. 424, unconfined.
unpitous, a. vii. 3411.
unpitously, adv. viii. 2994*.
unplein, a. i. 1058, dishonest.
unpreised, a. ii. 2078.
unprisone, v.a. vii. 3293, free from prison.
unprofitable, a. ii. 3108.
unpurse, v.a. v. 558, take from the purse.
unresonable, a. v. 761, viii. 2932.
unriht, a. ii. 2773, iii. 1247, wrong.
unrihte, v.a. ii. 506, v. 6744, set wrong, undo.
unrihtwisnesse, s. vii. 4724, 5270.
unsauhte, a.(pl.), vii. 2034, out of accord.
unschette, v.n. iv. 2997, vii. 4968, open.[Pg 643]
unsein, a. v. 3572, unseen.
unsely, a. i. 88, v. 459, viii. 2360, unhappy.
unsemlieste, see thunsemlieste.
unserved, a. iii. 2277.
unsittende, a. vii. 1736, unfitting.
unskilfully, adv. vii. 4757, unjustly.
unsofte, a. iii. 123.
unsowed, v.a.pp. viii. 1183.
unsped, a. viii. 532, without success.
unstable, a. P. 863, ii. 1226.
unstoken, pp. v. 34, opened.
untame, a. iii. 245, wild.
unteid, a. iii. 830, iv. 3462, vi. 598, unrestrained, wandering.
unthewed, a. i. 3040, wrongly disposed.
unthryve, v.n. v. 2508, be unprosperous.
until, prep. i. 2061, iv. 3058, unto.
unto, prep. P. 80, 152, i. 2162, iv. 684, &c.,
un to, P. 339, viii. 3069.
untome (= unto me), iii. 99.
untoward, prep. iv. 559, v. 2622, towards.
untreuly, untrewly, adv. v. 5814, vii. 5239,
untrewely, v. 6976.
untrewe, a. P. 536, i. 1201.
untrist, untrust, s. v. 585, 717, mistrust.
untrowthe, untrouthe, s. i. 926, ii. 852, 2750, v. 5683.
untrusse, v.a. v. 4988, unload.
unwaked, a. vii. 4966, asleep.
unwar, a. ii. 1041, iv. 15, vi. 1262,
pl. unware, P. 393, ignorant, careless, unknown.
unwarli, adv. vii. 4784.
unwedded, a. ii. 785, v. 6436*.
unwelde, a. iii. 989, vii. 1855, unmanageable, helpless.
unwerred, a. iii. 2317, free from war.
unwis, see unwys.
unworschipe, s. vii. 2130, dishonour.
unworthely, adv. vii. 2479.
unwys, a. ii. 208, iv. 3529, unwis, viii. 2094, def. unwise, iii. 1799,
pl. unwise, v. 742.
up, prep. ii. 3469, iv. 1002, 1342, v. 160, upon:
adv. P. 570, i. 339, 1184, v. 3530;
cp. uppe:
up so doun, ii. 1744, iii. 80, iv. 561.
upbere, v.a., pp. upbore, v. 1814, viii. 405, 631.
upcaste, v.a.pret. iv. 3032, vii. 1156, pp.
upcast, i. 697.
updrawe, v.a.pp. ii. 794, v. 3313, viii. 599, brought up, drawn up.
uphield, v.a.pret. i. 985.
uplefte, v.a.pret. i. 1674, vii. 2264,
uplifte, i. 198, lifted up;
v.n. uplefte, P. 696, was raised.
upon, prep. P. 27, 61, 781, i. 968, 1000, 1197, 1599, 2673, ii. 2899, iii. 2425, iv. 236, 2080, 3101, (uppon, viii. 2959);
adv. v. 3556,
hier upon, v. 7206*: on, upon, into, with regard to, by reason of.
uppe, adv. P. 344, i. 2570, iv. 1831: cp. up.
upriht, upryht, a. and adv. P. 147, 656, 1028, i. 746, ii. 253, vii. 5282.
uprihtes, upryhtes, adv. P. 940, i. 2918, iii. 2634.
upriste, s. i. 2198, rising.
upset, v.a.pp. v. 2316, set up,
upsete, viii. 244, overthrown.
upward, adv. i. 663, v. 3978.
us, s. P. 359, i. 2695, v. 137, use, usage.
usage, s. v. 7542, vi. 664.
usance, s. i. 2027, vi. 569, custom.
use(n), v.a. P. 397, i. 342, 1373, 2101, v. 6578,
(pp. usid, viii. 2964), use, practise;
v.n. ii. 400, v. 38, be wont.
usure, s. v. 4384 ff.
V
vailable, a. vii. 1526, 3176, PP. 142, serviceable.
vailant, a. iv. 1633, valiant.
vaile, v.n. vii. 144, profit.
Valentinian, v. 6398.
Valerie, Valeire, v. 6360, vii. 3181.
valleie, s. v. 1013, vii. 3320*, valley.
value, s. ii. 3410, iii. 2765.
vanite, s. i. 451, 2784, v. 215, vii. 2410.
vanyssht, v.n.pp. v. 3959.
variance, s. P. 542, vii. 1758.
vasselage, s. v. 902, 6435*, prowess.
vecke, s. i. 1675, hag.
Vegecius, v. 885.
vegetabilis, iv. 2535.
veile, v.a. viii. 1261.
vein, a. ii. 1713,
def. vein, P. 221, i. 599,
fem. veine, P. 262, i. 2677,
pl. veine, i. 2689;
in vein, i. 1946, 2736, ii. 2253.
veines, veynes, s. pl. ii. 3123, iv. 3463, v. 4164, viii. 1186, veins.
veneison, s. iv. 1996, game (in hunting).
Venenas, vii. 1393.
venerie, s. v. 1262, hunting.[Pg 644]
venerien, a. vii. 795, 1347.
vengable, a. iv. 3510, apt to take vengeance.
vengance, s. i. 378, 1433,
(vengaunce, viii. 2997*).
venge(n), v.a. and refl. i. 991, 2578, ii. 1285, iii. 1013, vii. 2891, avenge.
vengement, s. i. 1457, viii. 220, vengeance.
Venus, i. 124, 235 ff., 2491, iii. 1462, 2555, iv. 419, 824, 1262, 1467, 1787, 3558, 3658, v. 650, 859, 917, 1388 ff., 1493, 4827, 4861, 5819, 5843, 6715, 6753, 7413, 7479 ff., vi. 506, 614, 639, 2425, vii. 20, viii. 2172 ff.;
(the planet) iv. 2473, 3245, vii. 773, 797, 1020, 1113, 1135, 1231, 1315, 1382, 1395, 1421.
venym, s. P. 858, ii. 2294, 3490.
Ver, vii. 1014.
Verconius, iv. 2433.
vernage, s. vi. 218, (a kind of wine).
verrai, verray, a. P. 978, i. 1450, 2451, ii. 3397, iv. 2275,
veray, verai, iv. 2519, v. 1774, true.
verrailiche, verraily, adv. i. 904, vi. 116, 866.
vers, s. vi. 70, order.
vertu, s. P. 79, 360, iv. 2327, vii. 1545, virtue, power.
vertue, v.refl. iii. 2766, endeavour.
vertules, a. vii. 1319, without virtue.
vertuous, a. P. 39, ii. 7, iv. 2635, vii. 1327, 1548, virtuous, powerful.
verveyne, s. v. 4039.
Vesper, iv. 3209.
vessel(l), s. ii. 1133, 3445, vii. 3500.
Veste, v. 892.
vestement, s. v. 7135.
viage, s. ii. 2528, iv. 218, 1948, viii. 1540, journey.
vicair, s. ii. 2804.
vice, s. P. 79, i. 577, 647.
vicious, a. vii. 792.
victoire, s. P. 1001, i. 2476, iii. 2681.
vigile, s. iv. 3252.
vil, a. P. 887, i. 2098.
vilein, a. iii. 1182, v. 7203,
pl. vileins, P. 738, worthless, cowardly:
subst. iii. 1244, iv. 2300, vii. 3062, boor, commoner.
vilenie, vileinie, s. i. 2408, v. 170, viii. 1431, worthlessness, unworthy deed.
vines, s.pl. iv. 2441, v. 1229.
vinour, s. vii. 1875, vine-grower.
Viola, v. 4811, 4849.
violence, s. ii. 2977, iii. 24, iv. 607.
violent, a. vii. 946, 4551.
virelai, s. i. 2709, 2727.
Virgile, v. 2032, vi. 98, viii. 2714.
virgine, s. v. 1773 ff., 6363 ff., viii. 52.
virginite, s. v. 6243, 6340 ff., viii. 204.
Virginius, vii. 5136.
Virgo, vii. 1081 ff., 1249.
visage, s. P. 112, i. 1684, ii. 1789, iii. 1784, vii. 4046, face, appearance, pretext.
viser, s. i. 637, ii. 2081, mask.
visioun, s. v. 7410.
visite, v.a. ii. 917.
vitaile, v.a. ii. 711, 1031, victual.
Vitellus, Vitelle, vi. 538, 563.
voide, a. iv. 2098, v. 1914, viii. 36, empty, clear.
voide, voyde, v.a. i. 1890, ii. 2125, iv. 2084, PP. 317, empty, drive away.
vois, s. i. 495, 1828, v. 995, 1721, voice, rumour, vote.
voisdie, s. vii. 3739, cunning.
voluptuosite, s. viii. 156.
vou, s. v. 5816.
vouche, v.a. iii. 486, iv. 668, affirm.
vowe, v.a. i. 3021.
Vulcanus, v. 642 ff., 956.
W
wacche, v.n. ii. 110, watch.
wacche, wachche, s. iv. 2808, v. 2241, watch.
wade, v.n. ii. 2221, iii. 228.
waile, weile, v.n. i. 3025, v. 7443.
waileway, interj. viii. 327.
waisshe(n), v.a.n. and refl. v. 301, 1471,
pret.s. wissh, v. 306,
wyssh, v. 3806, vii. 2283,
pl. wisshen, v. 3836,
pp. waisshen, i. 2846; wash.
waite, wayten, v.n. ii. 110, 117, iii. 915, 2090, iv. 802, wait, keep watch;
v.a. v. 7112, PP. 204, watch for, attend to.
wake(n), v.n. iii. 51, iv. 2709, 2837, 3314,
pret. wok, i. 914, ii. 1349, wake, stay awake.
wakere, s. iv. 3162.
wakinge, s. iv. 3142.
wal, see wall.
Wales, ii. 904.
walke, v.n. i. 99, ii. 758, 2094, iii. 364.
wall, wal, s. P. 836, ii. 1089, 2893,
pl. walles, i. 1155.
walle, v.a. v. 7230.
wane, s. v. 5369, vii. 591.
wanhope, s. iii. 281, iv. 3397, despair.
wantounesse, s. iv. 1277, v. 6116, vii. 798.[Pg 645]
wantounly, adv. iv. 1017.
war, a. P. 508, i. 330, 1075, ii. 557,
pl. ware, viii. 1392,
be war, ii. 1606, v. 7838, aware, careful.
war, v.n. and refl. imperat. war thee wel, iii. 968, v. 7606,
war hem wel, iii. 1113,
war, vii. 1137.
warant, s. i. 1695, ii. 1237, v. 1924, security, warrant.
warde, s. i. 332, iii. 1953, v. 5298, guard;
pl. wardes, v. 1868, wards (of a key).
warde, v.a.n. i. 331, 536, iii. 1954, v. 5297, guard.
wardein, s. v. 6614, 7152*.
warie, v.a. v. 510, 3913, curse.
warisoun (-on), s. i. 671, 3349, property.
warm, a. iii. 314, iv. 422, vii. 4135,
al warm, ii. 2485, v. 679.
warme, v.a. viii. 1194.
warne, v.a. i. 2506, ii. 1436, 2092, iv. 1432, warn, command, inform.
warnynge, s. viii. 581.
was, were, &c., see be.
was, as subst. viii. 2435.
wast, a. P. 839, v. 7816, desolate, wasted.
wast, s. (1), i. 1192, v. 356, 4656, waste.
wast, s. (2), v. 7143, waist.
waste, v.a. P. 649, i. 2836, 3310.
wastour, s. v. 1053.
water, s. i. 2194, ii. 2189, 3170, iv. 3009, vii. 238,
water stronde, i. 1169,
water Nimphes, v. 1182,
water spoute, vii. 1193.
watergates, s.pl. iii. 689, 987.
waterpot, s. iii. 673.
wawe, s. i. 2945, ii. 24, 728, iv. 3083.
waxe, wexe, v.n. P. 629, ii. 2260, iii. 56, iv. 345,
3 s.pres. wext, vi. 34,
waxeth, P. 1078,
3 s.pret. wax, P. 914, ii. 1713,
3 pl. woxen, P. 914, vii. 1995,
pp. woxe, v. 9, 6008.
way, see weie.
wayt, s. ii. 2447, 2999.
wayten, see waite.
we, pron. P. 2, i. 842, &c.,
cp. ous.
wedd, s. i. 1558, pledge;
to wedde, i. 1588, ii. 2662, iv. 2876, as a pledge.
wedde(n), v.a.n. i. 1587, 1741, 2486, ii. 623, 664, 1305, v. 486,
pp. weddid, iv. 650, wedded, i. 1761.
wedded, a. v. 4655, 5631.
weddinge, s. vii. 5326.
wede, s. ii. 1847, v. 6209, dress, cover.
weder, s. i. 2925, ii. 1888, iii. 1029, v. 7048, weather, wind.
weene, s. iv. 2595, expectation.
weene, v. see wene.
weer, see wer.
weie, s. P. 17, 232, i. 89, 818, 1002, 1712, 3440,
(weye, viii. 3058*),
wey, i. 1562,
way, v. 6596;
do wey, vii. 5408;
mi weie, his weie (= away), viii. 1452, PP. 336: way, road, means.
weie, v.a.n. v. 4412, vii. 1105, PP. 91,
pp. weie, PP. 320, weigh.
weile, see waile.
weke, s. i. 3110, vii. 957, week.
wel, adv. P. 92, 522, 616, &c.,
wiel, P. 648, vii. 816,
wel is, i. 1605,
wel you be, ii. 1513,
cp. iii. 840,
wel the more, &c., P. 55*, ii. 3512, 3523,
wel a fourtenyht, iv. 1418,
als (also) wel ... as, i. 1316, 2248 f., ii. 3408.
wel, wele, s. P. 547, i. 149, 2371, iii. 283, 780, iv. 1070, prosperity, happiness.
welcome, a. v. 3788.
welcome, v.a. v. 3373, viii. 1895.
welcominge, welcomyng, s. ii. 671, v. 3813, vi. 1504.
welde(n), v.a. ii. 2411, iv. 1828, v. 77, 1631, vii. 657, manage, rule.
welfare, s. ii. 225, iv. 3412.
welke, v.n. P. 934, wither;
pp. welked, viii. 2437.
welkne, s. P. 928, iii. 985, viii. 1042.
welle, s. i. 148, 2306, 2343, iii. 1408, well, spring;
welle stremes, vii. 251.
wellwillende, a. iv. 507, well disposed.
welmore, adv. i. 973, iii. 455, 797, much more.
welnyh, adv. P. 30, i. 983, vi. 1685.
welthe, P. 95, 787, i. 2495, ii. 1207, prosperity, wealth.
welwillinge, s. iii. 599, 2258, goodwill.
wenche, s. ii. 3097.
wende(n), v.a. v. 522,
pret. wente, ii. 2248,
pp. went, P. 246, iii. 878, v. 4450, vii. 442, turn;
v.n. and refl. P. 591, i. 2090,
3 s.pres. went, i. 50,
pret. wente, i. 143, 826, 1163, v. 3314,
went, v. 7533, turn, go.
wene, weene, v.n. P. 337, 656, i. 681, 1603, 1897, ii. 2479, iv. 911, 2596,
pret. wende, i. 2005, ii. 2289, think, expect, trust;
v.a. i. 925, 1194, ii. 2018,
pret. wende, i. 1187, expect, believe.
wenge, see wynge.
wente, s. iv. 168, v. 2726, vi. 1029, vii. 2250, turn, way, device.
wenynge, wenyng, i. 1946, 1958, 2267, expectation, thought.
wepe, v.n. i. 115, 955, 965, 2325,
3 s.pres. wepth, i. 2338,
pret. wepte, i. 2180, 2325, weep.
wepinge, s. i. 2188, 3171, viii. 522.[Pg 646]
wepne, s. ii. 1767, v. 338, weapon.
wepneles, a. vii. 2850, without arms.
wer, weer, s. P. 143, i. 1924, iii. 1148, doubt, difficulty.
werche, see worche(n).
were (1), v.a. P. 356, iv. 1429,
pp. wered (oute), P. 870, wear;
v.n. were (oute), P. 368.
were (2), v.a. v. 3615, defend.
were, s. vii. 4813, wearing.
werinesse, s. vii. 3264*.
werk, s. P. 51, i. 1090, 2542,
pl. werkes, P. 491, iii. 1274.
werke, see worche(n).
werkman, s. i. 1091.
werkmanschipe, s. i. 2541.
werne, v.a. i. 1931, ii. 85, iv. 2066, viii. 948;
v.n. i. 2622, prevent, refuse.
werre, s. P. 129, i. 2463, 3288, war.
werre, v.a. iii. 2489, 2537, fight against,
pp. werred, iv. 1805, be engaged in war;
v.n. iii. 2584, v. 6420*, make war.
werre, see werse.
werreiour, s. ii. 2516, iii. 2348, PP. 130.
werse, a.comp. P. 638, iii. 1563,
worse, P. 57, iii. 2598;
as subst. the werse, iii. 587,
the worse, v. 7353,
the werre, P. 176, iii. 1646,
for bet, for wers, iv. 673:
adv. wurse, v. 6994,
worse, vii. 5293.
werste, a.sup. i. 3057,
worste, iii. 2102;
as subst. the werste, P. 641, ii. 1675, v. 7363,
cp. viii. 1067,
the worste, ii. 443, v. 3278:
adv. werst, worst, i. 326, iv. 420,
worste, i. 2360.
wery, a. iii. 1153, vii. 415, weary.
west, s. vii. 565.
westward, adv. vii. 576.
wet, a. i. 1680,
pl. wete, v. 4087;
as subst. the wete, vi. 1271.
wete, v.a. vi. 1042,
pret. wette, v. 3973, wet.
wether, s. v. 4045, vi. 429, ram.
wetinge, s. iv. 1109, wetting.
weve, v.a.n. v. 1283, vii. 4333,
pret. waf, v. 5770, weave.
wevinge, s. iv. 1175.
wex, s. iv. 1055, vi. 1958, wax.
wexe, see waxe.
wey, see weie.
weyhte, s. ii. 341, 1926, iii. 1572, weight, balance.
weyve, v.a. i. 479, 2894, ii. 610, 2930, iii. 1061, iv. 3692, vi. 1456, 2058,
weive, iii. 1854, viii. 1288, put aside, refuse, leave, vacate;
v.n. ii. 3469, iii. 1768, 2509, turn aside, refuse, leave off.
whan, whanne, conj. P. 9, 343, i. 112,
whan that, P. 37, 337,
when, i. 1757, 2402.
what, pron. and a. P. 26, i. 881, (= whatever) P. 69*, i. 281, iii. 325,
what man, iii. 2508,
what womman, i. 1610,
what ... that, P. 68, 399, 997,
what as (evere), P. 487, i. 1830, v. 351,
what ... what, iv. 701, v. 527, 7583,
what ... and, viii. 856,
what time, iv. 1983.
what, s. i. 1676, iii. 1217, v. 4429, thing.
whel, see whiel.
whelp, s. i. 1259.
when, see whan, whenne.
whenne, when, interr. adv. iv. 578, viii. 738, 989,
fro whenne, ii. 3135, v. 614,
fro whenne that, ii. 1147,
fro when, iv. 1336;
conj. whenne as evere, i. 3375,
whenne that, ii. 1583: whence.
wher (1), where, interr. adv. P. 381, i. 126, 932;
conj. P. 288, i. 35,
wher that, P. 666,
wher(e) as (evere), P. 893, i. 37, iii. 2339, iv. 2877;
wher on, iv. 3001,
elles where, ii. 1979, iii. 2079: where.
wher (2), interr. adv.,
wher ... or, i. 57, 1811;
conj., wher ... or, i. 789, iii. 1000, iv. 1516,
wher so ... or, iv. 641, v. 466, 3569, viii. 2220: whether.
wherby, rel. adv. v. 4991.
wherinne, rel. adv. iv. 1835.
wherof, rel. adv. P. 47, i. 454, 829, 1203, iv. 1790, vii. 741,
(whereof, PP. 17 ff., wher of, viii. 2952 ff.),
wherof that, i. 541, 1266; of which, whence.
wherto, rel. adv. iii. 254.
wherupon, rel. adv. i. 12, v. 268,
(wher upon, vi. 1762).
wherwith, rel. adv. v. 2618.
whete, s. iv. 1710, viii. 469.
whether, a. ii. 1725, iii. 1733, iv. 1741, which (of the two), which ever.
whether, conj.,
whether that ... or, i. 1332, iv. 1092;
cp. wher (2).
whi, why, interr. adv. P. 32, 849, i. 2149, iv. 2023,
why that, P. 557,
whi ne were it (a wish), iv. 2855;
for why, v. 4717.
which, rel. pron. and a. P. 52, 75, i. 193, 766, 2411, iii. 343 (that which), 2527,
the which, P. 71,
pl. whiche, P. 707, i. 404, ii. 604,
which, P. 1016,
which that, i. 94,
which(e) as, i. 1653, ii. 2082:
interr. i. 827;
in exclamation, iv. 1212, v. 388, 1186.
whider, interr. adv. iv. 578, 3446, whither.
whiderward, interr. adv. vii. 777.[Pg 647]
whiel, whel, P. 138, 444, 561, i. 2490, ii. 241, 1822, iv. 1196, wheel.
whil, whyl, while, conj. P. 252, i. 762, ii. 1010, iii. 1577, iv. 1495,
whil that, whyl that, i. 963, 3384.
while, whyle, s. P. 558, i. 706, 756, 1094, 1264, 1577, 2628, ii. 1846, 2324, 2862, v. 6752;
al the while (as conj.), iii. 2530,
the whyle, iv. 1565, (meanwhile): short time, time, leisure.
whiles, whyles, see therwhile.
whilom, P. 54, 886, i. 975, whylom, iv. 2347, formerly.
whippe, s. iii. 120.
who, pron.indef., who that, P. 13, 550, i. 481,
who so, P. 1002,
who so that, v. 50,
who as evere, iv. 1096, 1685,
as who seith, P. 43, i. 1381, 2794:
interr. P. 176,
who was who, vii. 2001, viii. 2461:
relat. whom, P. 85,
the whom, ii. 162,
whos, P. 444,
the whos, iv. 3039, v. 1798:
cp. which.
why, see whi.
whyt, whit, a. ii. 1506, iii. 797, iv. 1348,
def. whyte, iv. 859,
pl. whyte, i. 2045, iv. 1310:
as subst. whyt, iv. 1317,
the whyt, v. 3016,
the whyte, iv. 2571.
wicchecraft, s. vi. 1288.
wicke, a. ii. 571, iii. 115, 462, 1651, v. 7353,
wikke, viii. 3025, bad:
as subst. v. 5915.
wicke, s. i. 3312, ii. 495, evil.
wicked, a. ii. 496, iii. 1626,
wickid, iii. 649, vii. 3805,
wikkid, P. 459.
wickedly, adv. i. 959.
wickednesse, wikkidnesse, s. vii. 4723, 5060.
wide, see wyde.
wiel, see wel.
wierde, s. iii. 1819,
weerdes, (pl.) iv. 2765, destiny.
wif, s. i. 677, 765, 1573,
genit. wyves, i. 2500,
dat. to wyve, v. 2686,
pl. wyves, ii. 1283, v. 6019, woman, wife.
wifhode, s. i. 974, v. 456, vi. 1475.
wifles, a. i. 1411, viii. 1760, without wife.
wihssinge, s. iii. 1174, wishing.
wiht, wyht, s. i. 28, 315, 745, 1548,
wight, i. 3011, person, creature.
wikkid, wikkidnesse, see wicked, &c.
wilde, wylde, a. P. 68*, 1057, i. 1241, ii. 161, 2295, iii. 325, 1638,
a wylde fyr, v. 2178.
wildernesse, s. iv. 1975, v. 1263,
wyldernesse, vii. 3216*.
wile, see wyle.
wilful, a. iii. 2449.
wille, will, s. P. 477, i. 190, 928, 1953, iii. 1161 ff., iv. 1828,
(wil, P. 72*, viii. 3037*), will, pleasure, wilfulness.
willinge, s. v. 5744.
wind, see wynd.
winde, v.a., pret. wond, v. 6889.
winge, see wynge.
winke, wynke, v.n. i. 384, v. 1842, close the eye.
winne, see wynne.
winnynge, s. iii. 2284.
wirche, see worche(n).
wis, see wys.
wisdom, s. P. 13, i. 2267, viii. 1483.
wise, s. P. 463, i. 478, 747, 2018, 3027,
wyse, P. 8, manner.
wisemen, see wysman.
wisly, see wysly.
wiss, adv., als so wiss, v. 3487,
als so wiss ... as, v. 4444, surely.
wisse(n), v.a. P. 232, iii. 1640, v. 1669, inform, guide.
wisshe, v.n. i. 115, 3164, iii. 1575, iv. 11,
pret. wisshide, i. 120.
wisshes, s.pl. iii. 1507, iv. 1107, vii. 4826.
wist, see wite.
wit, witt, s. P. 14, i. 1309, 1907, iii. 609, 1163 ff.,
pl. wittes, P. 81, i. 296, mind, reason, wits, senses.
wite(n), v.a.n. P. 286, i. 2742,
2 s.pres. wost, ii. 3528,
3 s. wot, P. 27, ii. 226,
woot, i. 1640,
3 pl. witen, i. 608,
pret. wiste, P. 1024, i. 911, 931, ii. 36,
wist, ii. 2010,
pp. wist, P. 503,
hadde I wist, i. 1888, ii. 473, iv. 305,
wiste, viii. 37,
imperat. wite, i. 2450, know:
cp. not.
with, prep. and adv. P. 85, 132, i. 248, 514, ii. 283, viii. 2501, 2553,
with that, i. 972, ii. 1528,
forth with, see forth.
withal, adv. P. 545, i. 1225,
withalle, i. 2307, ii. 1777,
withall, ii. 3474,
with al, i. 3421, therewith, moreover.
withdrawe, v.a. and refl. i. 2224,
pret. withdrowh, withdrouh, i. 930, iii. 2673, v. 6268,
pp. withdrawe, ii. 2582, iv. 2683, v. 2812,
imperat. withdrawgh, withdrawh, iv. 3220, v. 7738;
v.n. iv. 1924.
withholde, v.a. iv. 533, v. 3383,
pp. withholde, P. 101, 263, i. 262, iii. 851, keep, retain (in service).
withinne, prep. P. 989, i. 1158, 2954,
withinnen, viii. 959;
adv. P. 836, i. 360, 875,
(withynne, viii. 3081).
withoute, prep. P. 114, i. 119,
withouten, P. 985, iii. 55,
(with outen, with oute, viii. 2951, 3089*), without:
adv. withoute, P. 794, i. 597, ii. 4, v. 2279, outside, outwardly, without.[Pg 648]
withsein, withseie, v.a. iii. 978, 2166,
3 s.pres. withseith, ii. 2806,
withseid, iii. 1838, oppose, say in opposition.
withset, v.a.pp. ii. 2335, hindered.
withstonde, v.a. i. 787, iv. 1993,
pret. withstod, ii. 2973,
pp. withstonde, i. 91;
noght withstondende, v. 1611,
cp. vi. 683.
witles, a. vi. 163, 567, senseless.
witnesse, s. P. 907, i. 714, 2559, ii. 1696, iii. 487, iv. 2040, evidence, witness.
witnesse, v.a.n. ii. 3095, v. 2864, vii. 4821, bear testimony (to).
wo, s. P. 547, iv. 3031,
wo thee be, i. 1659, iii. 462,
cp. i. 1076, iii. 802,
wo worthe, viii. 1334, 2582,
wo begon, i. 1762,
wo the while, v. 6752.
wo, a. ii. 134, v. 3678, sorrowful.
wod, a. P. 1078, ii. 153, iii. 217,
def. wode, iii. 244, iv. 3064, mad, wild.
wode, s. i. 110, 344, ii. 2296,
(woode, v. 7026*),
genit. wodes, iv. 1308, wood.
wode, v.n. iii. 86, rage.
wodemayde, s. v. 6237, wood-maiden.
wodesschawe, s. v. 6324, wood.
woful(l), a. P. 255, i. 75, 1001, 1674;
sup. the wofulleste, vii. 5017.
wofully, wofulli, adv. ii. 1149, 3224, vi. 1009.
wol, v. 1, 3 s.pres. P. 482, 750, 963,
woll, P. 62, i. 838, 1266,
wole, i. 2389, v. 4516,
wile, i. 1865,
nyle (= ne wyle), iii. 961,
2 s. wolt, i. 2254,
wilt, i. 3333,
pl. ye wole, i. 1831,
ye woll, i. 66, 3274,
wol ye, ii. 551,
3 pl. wol, i. 1363 f., iv. 1678,
wole, v. 2107,
3 s.pres. subj. (?) wole, P. 368, iv. 1171, 1215,
wile, P. 379, i. 35,
pret. ind. and subj. wolde, P. 17, 151, 461, i. 162, 816, 3169,
wold, v. 4217, 7137,
wolde god, iv. 899, 1148,
pp. wold, iv. 248; will, would (as auxil.):
v.a. i. 3169, iv. 3475, desire.
woldes, as subst. pl. vi. 923.
wolf, s. P. 419, iv. 328, vii. 3364.
wolle, s. iv. 2435, v. 45, 1203,
wulle, P. 399, iv. 2895, wool.
wollesak, s. i. 1692, sack of wool.
wombe, s. P. 609, iii. 190, iv. 2755, belly, womb.
womman, s. i. 681, ii. 56,
pl. wommen, i. 488.
wommanhiede (-hede), s. i. 1719, iii. 1607, iv. 602, 2305, v. 533, woman’s nature, womanliness.
wommanlich, wommanly, a. i. 2757, vii. 4879.
wommanysshe, wommannysshe, wommanisshe, a. i. 495, 913, iv. 1924, v. 6199, viii. 855,
wommannysch, womannyssh, i. 1530, vii. 4321, womanly, effeminate.
wonde(n), v.n. iii. 1569, 2215, v. 7036, turn aside;
v.a. vii. 5260, avoid.
wonder, s. P. 75, 243, i. 2798,
wondre, iv. 1972,
(wondir, viii. 3093, PP. 47),
pl. wondres, v. 1570;
no wonder thogh, &c., i. 1726, 2759.
wonder, a. i. 67, 411, 1328, wondrous:
adv. P. 604, i. 368.
wonderfull, a. P. 557, v. 349.
wonderly (-li), adv. ii. 1544, iii. 1157, iv. 2980.
wondre, v.n. P. 175, ii. 775, 1508, iv. 3647.
wondringe, s. v. 5149.
wone, s. i. 2276, ii. 3260, iii. 149, v. 468, custom, habit.
wone, v.n. i. 920, ii. 1053, iii. 150, v. 467, dwell.
wones, s.pl. iv. 2217, v. 210, vii. 4116, viii. 612, possession.
wont, a. i. 2979, 3036, iv. 3105.
worche(n), v.a.n. i. 2615, ii. 215, 1850, iii. 357, 959, iv. 2595, v. 463,
werche, P. 450, i. 626, v. 1800,
(wirche, PP. 20, 199),
werke, i. 633, v. 1894;
pret. wroghte, P. 694, 1008, iii. 1117,
(wroughte, viii. 3002),
pp. wroght, i. 1061, 2613, work, do.
worchinge, s. ii. 3485, vii. 1369.
word, s. P. 113, 460, i. 746, ii. 1406, vii. 1509 ff.,
(pl. wordis, viii. 3118 ff.).
worde, v.n. iii. 742, dispute.
world, s. P. 10, 28, 383, 1081, i. 178, 1257, ii. 2972, iii. 626, iv. 2078, vii. 2521, 2702;
worldes blisse, &c., i. 1771, 2683, iii. 2470,
worldes deth, i. 2213,
a worldes womman, v. 5755: world, fortune.
worldesriche, s. iii. 2587, v. 87.
worldly, a. P. 219;
adv. vii. 2304.
worm, s. v. 3716, 5131, serpent.
worschipe, s. P. 785, i. 919, 1553, v. 188, 195, honour.
worschipe, v.a. P. 105, v. 1272, honour, worship.
worschipful, a. ii. 662.
worse, worst, see werse, werste.
wortes, s.pl. vii. 2297, herbs.
worth, s. P. 636, iv. 1327.
worth, a. P. 629, i. 1927, iii. 1652.
worthe, v.n. vi. 279, become,
wo worthe, viii. 1334, 2582.[Pg 649]
worthi, a. P. 45, i. 203, 316, 764, iv. 1335, v. 105;
as subst.pl. v. 2058;
sup. the worthieste, i. 1432, vi. 1600.
worthili (-ly), adv. ii. 604, 2649.
worthinesse, s. P. 50*, i. 1435, iv. 1156.
wounde, s. i. 1426, iii. 308, vii. 1568, wound.
wounde(n), v.a. iv. 2002, vii. 4282,
pp. wounded, viii. 2818.
wow, s. iii. 1341, iv. 246, wall.
wowe, v.n. iv. 161, 2281, 2711, v. 2888, woo.
wower, s. ii. 52, wooer.
wrastle, v.n. viii. 2240 f.
wrathful, a. vii. 411.
wrathfulli, adv. v. 7202.
wraththe, s. i. 3325, iii. 83, 842,
wrathe, iii. 21.
wraththe(n), v.n. and refl. iii. 385, 401,
pret. wroth, viii. 1692, be angry.
wrecche, s. i. 2098, v. 4856, wretch.
wreche, s. P. 899, ii. 572, iii. 231, v. 388,
wrieche, vii. 537, 4731,
wreeche, iii. 2147, vengeance.
wreke, v.a. i. 1519, iii. 1109, iv. 3618,
pp. wroke(n), ii. 536, 2174, iii. 860,
wreke, ii. 186, v. 5869, avenge, satisfy.
wrenne, s. viii. 2227.
wrieche, see wreche.
wringe, v.a. iii. 1426, iv. 2673.
writ, s. ii. 3386, v. 1923, viii. 2698.
write, see wryte.
writere, s. iv. 2657.
writhe, v.a.pp. vii. 5341, twisted.
writinge, see wrytinge.
wroghte, wroght, see worchen.
wrong, a. ii. 2391, v. 5743,
def. wrong, ii. 295,
pl. wronge, iv. 3709.
wrong, s. P. 251, ii. 1739, iii. 2425, PP. 106,
with wrong (= wrongly), vi. 2320.
wronge, v.n. ii. 3070, v. 7634, do wrong.
wrongful, wrongfull, a. ii. 2980, iii. 2343, 2354, v. 7385, vii. 5247.
wroth, a. i. 368, 1204, iii. 217,
for wroth, vi. 1696,
pl. wrothe, P. 920, iv. 1873.
wryte(n), v.a.n. P. 6, 21, i. 74, &c.,
(write, P. 56*, viii. 3014*),
3 s.pres. writ, P. 13, vii. 4560,
pret.s. wrot, i. 1487,
pl. write(n), P. 1, i. 1857, iv. 2525,
pret. subj. write, P. 41,
pp. write(n), P. 3, iv. 1662; write.
wrytinge, wrytynge, s. P. 38, ii. 3030, iv. 2924, vi. 2438,
writynge, P. 53*,
writinges (pl.), i. 8.
wulle, see wolle.
wurse, see werse.
wyde, wide, a. P. 100, i. 627, ii. 595;
adv. vii. 3320,
wyde where, iii. 1019, viii. 1460.
wydewhere, adv. vii. 3456, far and wide:
see wyde.
wyht, see wiht.
wyhte, a.pl. viii. 681, nimble.
wylde, see wilde.
wyle, s. i. 755, 2627, ii. 480,
wiles, (pl.) i. 2588, cunning, wile.
wympel, wimpel, s. iii. 1396, 1419, v. 6889.
wyn, s. i. 2549, ii. 1008,
pl. wynes, iv. 2442, wine.
wynd, s. P. 923, i. 2410,
wind, viii. 2851.
wynddrive, pp. vi. 1423, driven by wind.
wyndi, wyndy, a. vi. 1418, viii. 1146.
wyndou, wyndowe, s. v. 6513, 6661.
wyndrunke, a. vi. 547, drunk with wine.
wynge, winge, s. ii. 417, v. 6005, 6526,
pl. wynges, iii. 2107, iv. 111,
wenges, viii. 2655.
wynke, see winke.
wynne, winne, v.a.n. P. 265, 403, i. 792, 823, 1809,
pret. wan, P. 709, i. 3421,
pl. wonne, iii. 2049,
pret. subj. wonne, iv. 2782,
pp. wonne, P. 687, i. 755, iv. 2184, vi. 2231,
wunne, vi. 2092, win, get, make, gain;
v.n. winne (awey), v. 352, get (away).
wynter, s. i. 2355, 3253,
genit. wyntres, v. 5959,
pl. with num., wynter, i. 1153, 1803, ii. 3207;
as a. P. 938, i. 1167, ii. 1817, iii. 684.
wyny, a. viii. 2849.
wype, v.a. v. 6529.
wys, wis, a. P. 157, i. 1899,
def. wyse, P. 65, i. 3396,
pl. wise, P. 363, i. 2017, 2768, iv. 2367;
as subst. sing. the wise, ii. 3248,
pl. wyse, P. 7;
superl. the wiseste (as subst.), P. 666, i. 1097: wise.
wyse, s. see wise.
wysly, wisly, adv. i. 536, ii. 2854, vii. 2482.
wysman, wisman, s. P. 68, i. 130, 1064, iii. 954,
pl. wisemen, vii. 1792,
genit. wisemennes, PP. 94.
wyte, s. ii. 430, iv. 2622,
(wite, P. 59*), blame, censure.
wyte, v.a. ii. 1844, charge;
to (forto) wyte, P. 530, i. 20, 263, 592, 1455, 2214,
(to wite, viii. 3013*), to be blamed.
wyve, v.n. ii. 3112, iv. 256, take a wife.
wyve, wyves, s. see wif.[Pg 650]
Y
yare (ȝ), a. i. 1165, v. 3299, 5613, ready.
ybore, see bere.
Ychonithon, vii. 1453.
ydeac, vi. 1318.
ydel, a. i. 1986, iv. 1094, 2678, v. 4724, idle, useless, empty:
adv. iv. 1152.
ydeliche, adv. iv. 1197, idly.
ydelnesse, s. iv. 1086, 1104.
ydelschipe, idelschipe, s. iv. 1729, 2329, vii. 4390.
Ydoine, vi. 879.
ydolatrie, s. v. 1587, vii. 4497.
Ydomeneux, iii. 1949.
ydriades, vii. 835, (name of a stone).
ydromance, s. vi. 1297, divination by water.
ydropesie, s. v. 250, dropsy.
ye (ȝ), pron. P. 16, i. 182, 588, 1821,
yee, vi. 1071, viii. 1533,
obl. you, yow, i. 66, 173.
ye, yee (ȝ), adv. P. 373, i. 550, 740, ii. 17, 1387, yea.
ÿe, see yhe.
yede (ȝ), v.n.pret. ii. 856, vii. 2786, went.
yelde(n) (ȝ), v.a. v. 4926, 7092,
pret. pl. yolde, viii. 1265,
pp. yolde, iv. 2125, v. 5648, vii. 4639, render, surrender, repay.
yelpe (ȝ), v.n. iv. 3410, v. 6156;
refl. i. 26, 1651: boast.
yelwe (ȝ), a. vii. 4881.
yeme (ȝ), v.a. v. 6611, take care of.
yer, yeer (ȝ), s. P. 25, 779,
pl. yeres, ii. 711, 1218, 2259,
yeeres, iv. 481,
yer, i. 2922, 3134;
yer (yeer) to yere, yer to yeere, i. 342, ii. 239, v. 1242,
yer be yere, ii. 20,
yeeres dai, v. 1311: year.
yerd (ȝ), s. iv. 870, courtyard.
yerde (ȝ), s. iii. 369, v. 2363, vii. 4676, stick.
yeve (ȝ), see yive(n).
yhe, ÿe, s. P. 34, 330, i. 305, 903, 2362, v. 2034,
pl. yhen, i. 140, 774, eye, sight.
yhed, a.,
bryht yhed, vii. 1857, bright eyed (man).
yhte, s. v. 7307, possession.
yifte (ȝ), s. i. 794, 1100, ii. 330, gift;
god I yive a yifte, iv. 1114, I vow to God,
cp. iv. 1684.
yifteles (ȝ), a. ii. 997.
yis (ȝ), adv. ii. 235, 1251, iii. 416, 854, iii. 1269, yes (not specially after a negative).
yit (ȝ), adv. P. 62, i. 1284, 2364, ii. 60, iii. 199,
yet (ȝ), P. 179, i. 576, 786;
for the time yit, &c., vi. 311, 893: yet, as yet, moreover.
yive(n) (ȝ), v.a. i. 964, 1648, ii. 1208, iv. 1114,
yeve, P. 167,
2 s.pres. yifst, v. 5856,
3 s. yifth, P. 519, iv. 367,
pret. yaf, P. 226, i. 817,
imperat. yif, i. 135, 1972,
pp. yove(n), P. 332, i. 1125, iii. 1594, give.
yle, ile, s. i. 1578, iv. 435, v. 861, 1254,
thyle, v. 1071, island.
ylem, s. vii. 216 ff., first substance.
Ylia, v. 894.
Ylioun, v. 7236.
ymage, s. P. 604, i. 804, v. 1499.
ymagerie, s. v. 5771.
ymaginacion (-oun), s. i. 958, 2269, 3069, ii. 2845.
ymaginynge, s. vii. 3312.
ynche, s. i. 1112, inch.
Ynde, iii. 2447, iv. 2056, v. 1049, 1910.
Yndien, a. v. 4732.
Yno, v. 4271 ff.
ynowh, a. i. 929, 1565,
pl. ynowhe, ynowe, i. 1135, ii. 3226;
subst. ynogh, ynow, v. 84, 2485: enough.
ynowh, ynouh, ynow, ynou, adv. ii. 3319, v. 2607, 5010, vii. 2100, sufficiently.
Yo, iv. 3319 ff.
yock (ȝ), s. v. 108, yoke.
yoke(n) (ȝ), v.a. iv. 1836, v. 3519, yoke.
yomen (ȝ), s.pl. vi. 1811.
yong (ȝ), a. i. 488,
def. yonge, i. 790, iv. 503,
pl. yonge, ii. 3219, iii. 1800;
as subst. pl. i. 2086, v. 3930;
comp. yonger, v. 5395;
sup. the yongest, i. 3133.
yongly (ȝ), a. v. 7202*, viii. 2674.
you, yow (ȝ), see ye.
youre (ȝ), poss. pron. i. 2768, iii. 596, 1087,
your, iii. 627;
disj. youres, i. 1852.
yowthe, youthe (ȝ), s. i. 730, iii. 153, 793, iv. 1588, (person) viii. 2462 ff.
Ypocras, vi. 1409.
ypocrisie, ipocrisie, s. i. 585, 635, 1034, 1079, hypocrisy.
ypocrite, s. i. 591 ff.
Ypolitus, v. 967.
yren, see iren.
Yris, iv. 2972 ff.
ys, s. ii. 1824, vi. 245, ice.
Ysis, i. 806, v. 801, 816,
Isis, iv. 460,
Ysis temple, i. 842, 858.
Ysolde, vi. 472, viii. 2501.[Pg 651]
Ytaile, iv. 93, 2183, v. 887, 903, 1223.
Ytalie, ii. 591.
Ytaspis, vii. 1785.
yvor, s. iv. 383, ivory.
yvy (lef), s. iv. 586, ivy (leaf).
ywiss, adv. i. 1281, ii. 2394,
iwiss, i. 1226, certainly.
Z
Zelpha, viii. 131.
Zenzis, iv. 2421.
zodiaque, s. vii. 697, 977.
Zorastes, vi. 1402, 2368.
Zorobabel, vii. 1802 ff.

INDEX TO THE NOTES

abaissht, iv. 1330.
abeche, vi. 709.
accidence, ii. 3210.
Achelons, iv. 2045.
adjective forms, P. 139, 221, 738, i. 636, 1006, 2677, ii. 2341, 3507, iv. 1320, 2624, vii. 4245.
aftercast, iv. 904.
a game, viii. 2319.
Alanus de Insulis, viii. 2341.
Albertus Magnus, v. 6498:
see also Speculum Astronomiae.
Albumasar, vii. 283, 989, 1239.
alchemy, terms of, iv. 2462 ff.
Alexander, Historia de Preliis, v. 1453, 1571, 2543, vi. 1789 ff.,
Romance of, vi. 1789 ff.,
see also Roman de toute Chevalerie.
Alfraganus, vii. 1461.
algorisme, vii. 155.
Almagest, vii. 983, 1449.
‘along on,’ iv. 624.
amaied, i. 2030.
anacoluthon, i. 98, iii. 1593, vi. 1798, vii. 5254.
‘and,’ position of, P. 155, v. 2815.
Andreas Capellanus, iv. 1245.
Antoninus Pius, vii. 4181.
a place, a doun, &c., i. 2377.
Apollonius of Tyre, Historia, viii. 271-1681.
appende, vii. 978.
applied, i. 577.
archdeacon’s court, P. 407.
arechen, v. 1826.
ariste, iv. 1285.
Aristotle, vi. 663, vii. 1, 265, 334 ff., 611.
article, use of, P. 72.
‘as he which,’ &c., i. 695, ii. 785.
‘as to,’ ‘as forto,’ i. 713.
asp, i. 463 (with Addenda).
assise, i. 3050.
assub, vii. 334.
asterte, iii. 626.
astraied, vii. 2660.
‘at after,’ vi. 1831.
Augustine, i. 463, iii. 2363, vi. 2368.
Avian’s Fables as authority, ii. 291.
Avicen, iv. 2610.
‘away,’ v. 7179.
Ayenbite of Inwyt, vi. 785.
Babio (comedy), v. 4808.
baillie, P. 220.
balke, iii. 515.
Barbour’s Bruce, viii. 1393.
Barlaam et Josaphat, i. 2021, v. 729 ff., 2273.
believe, viii. 2500.
Benoît de Sainte-More as authority, i. 483, 1077, iii. 973 ff., 1757, 1885 ff., 2639 ff., iv. 1693, 2135, v. 1831, 2547, 3247 ff., 6435, 7195 ff., 7591, vi. 1391 ff.
beseie, besein, viii. 1617.
beteche, vi. 2411.
‘betwen hem two,’ &c., ii. 653, v. 5025.
bewar, iii. 1496, v. 7838.
Bible as authority, P. 881, i. 2785, iv. 1505, 1935, 2325, 2342, v. 1930, 1952, vi. 986, vii. 1783 ff., 2527, 3149*, 3627, 3820, 3860, 3891, 4027, 4406, 4469, 5307.
bidde, biede, bede, v. 4455.
blanche fievere, vi. 239.
blesse, v. 5022.
Boccaccio, i. 389, 2316, ii. 2451, iii. 2555, v. 2273.
Boethius quoted, P. 567, false reference, ii. 261.
Bohemian fashions, viii. 2470.
Boniface VIII, legend of, ii. 2803.
bord, iv. 1741.
bot (= beyond), vii. 694.
Bromyard, Summa Praedicantium, ii. 83, vii. 2355.
Brunetto Latini as authority, P. 745
(Addenda), i. 463
(Addenda), vii. 1-725, 1595 ff., 2115, 3054, 3387.
brygantaille, P. 212.[Pg 652]
burel, P. 52.
Burley, De Vita Philosophorum, iii. 1201.
byme (= by me), i. 232.
Caecilius Balbus quoted as Seneca, v. 7736.
Callisthenes, vi. 2274.
‘cam ride,’ i. 350.
Canahim, vii. 566.
capital letters, use of, iii. 1158, iv. 1285, viii. 1285.
Capitolinus, vii. 4181.
Caracalla, vii. 4574.
Catiline, debate on the conspiracy, vii. 1595 ff.
‘cause of,’ P. 905.
champartie, iii. 1173.
‘chase’ at tennis, PP. 295.
Chaucer and Gower, i. 1407 ff., ii. 587 ff., 2451, iii. 143, 1331, iv. 104, 731, 2927, v. 3247, 5231, 5551 ff., vii. 4754, 5131, 7597, viii. 2450, 2573, 2955*.
Chaunces of the Dyse, iv. 2792.
cherry fair (or feast), P. 454, vi. 891.
cheste, iii. 417.
Cicero (Cithero), not identified with Tullius, iv. 2648, vii. 1595.
cit, P. 836.
Civile, ii. 83.
‘coat for the hood,’ v. 4787, 7716.
Colchos, Isle of, v. 3509.
Comestor, Petrus, iv. 647, vii. 3417.
‘common voice,’ P. 122.
conjunctions, position of, P. 155.
conscience, i. 595.
consecutive clauses, i. 492.
conseil, v. 3904.
contenance, i. 698.
contretaile, viii. 3102*.
‘cope (coupe) of hevene,’ vii. 534.
crok, vii. 2268.
‘cross and pile,’ ii. 390.
‘curry favel,’ i. Lat. Verses, x. 5.
Daaly, vii. 351.
‘danger,’ i. 2443.
Dante, ii. 3095, iv. 2200, 2208.
definite form of adjectives, P. 221, ii. 2341, vii. 4245,
before proper names, P. 139.
demonstrative for definite article, P. 900, ii. 317.
depos, ii. 1757.
descryve, vi. 1110.
deserve, PP. 278.
digressions, v. 729.
Dindymus, Didymus, iv. 2641.
disorder of clauses, P. 34*, i. 2078, ii. 709, iv. 242, 3520.
‘do wey,’ vii. 5408.
dom, viii. 2113.
‘doute,’ ‘hem stant no doute,’ ii. 2124.
due, vii. 4195.
Eges, vii. 351.
elision before ‘have,’ i. 2398.
elision never prevented by caesura, PP. 356.
elision-apocope, P. 683, vi. 2062, viii. 2165.
Emaré, ii. 1300.
enbrace, i. 431.
entame, i. 709.
Epistola Valerii ad Rufinum, v. 6398.
erasures in Fairfax MS., i. 2713, ii. 594, iii. 2346, iv. 1245 (end), vi. 1359, viii. 2938.
errors of original copyists, i. 2410, ii. 833, 1020, 1778, 2537, iii. 1065, iv. 2973, v. 4251, vii. 2698 (margin).
eschu, v. 4748.
‘-eth’ termination of plural verb, vii. 536.
Etna, fire of, P. 329, ii. 20.
‘evel’ in the metre, v. 519.
‘exaltation’ of planets, vii. 1085 ff.
‘excuse,’ i. 733.
exponde, P. 823.
Fa crere, ii. 2122.
faie, i. 2317.
‘fall’ of planets, vii. 1135 ff.
fatalism of Gower, i. 1714, iii. 352, vi. 995.
fawht, pret., v. 5360.
felawe, P. 795.
feminine forms of substantives, i. 1006,
of adjectives, i. 636, 1006, 2677, ii. 3507.
ferke, viii. 603.
fet, viii. 2415.
fieldwode, v. 4039.
finde, vi. 632.
‘for an ende,’ viii. 1219.
‘for pure abaissht,’ ‘for wroth,’ &c., iv. 1330, vi. 1696.
fore, iv. 1723.
forebode, v. 6053.
‘forwhy and,’ ii. 2025.
French plural adjective, P. 738,
fem. adj. i. 636, 1006, 2677, ii. 3507, iv. 2624.
Froissart, iv. 3438, viii. 2450.
Fulgentius as authority, v. 363, 1520, vii. 853.
Galahot, viii. 2505.
Garland, see Hortulanus.
Geber, iv. 2608.
genitive for adjective, v. 3533, viii. 1374.[Pg 653]
Genius, i. 196:
cp. Vox Clamantis, iv. 587 ff.
‘gentilesse,’ iv. 2200.
geomancy, vi. 1295.
Gesta Romanorum, iii. 1201, v. 2391, 7105*, vii. 2061, 2355, 2889, 2917, 3295;
not used by Gower, vii. 2061.
Geta of Vitalis Blesensis, ii. 2459 (Addenda).
‘goddeshalf,’ v. 4452.
Godfrey of Viterbo as authority, i. 2459, iv. 647, 2396 ff., v. 1541 ff., vii. 2765, 2833, 3144, 3295, 4181, 4335, 4574, viii. 271, 679, 1311, 1567.
gold laid on the book, v. 558.
Gregory cited, P. 289, 945, v. 1756, 1900.
grein, vi. 770.
grisel, viii. 2407.
Grosteste, legend of, iv. 234.
Guido di Colonna (or delle Colonne), iii. 2639;
also referred to, i. 483, 1077, iii. 973 ff., 1757, 1885 ff., v. 3247 ff., 7195, vi. 1391 ff.
‘had’ for ‘hadde,’ i. 2569.
‘hadde I wist,’ iv. 305.
Hampole referred to, viii. 2833.
hapne, v. 7830.
hed, ii. 2066.
‘of hed,’ iv. 3438.
Hegesippus as authority, i. 761, 940.
hepe, v. 2872.
heraldie, ii. 399.
Hermes (Trismegistus), iv. 2410, 2606,
as authority, vii. 1281 ff.
‘heved’ in the metre, i. 1536.
hevenly, hevenely, v. 774.
‘hire’ in the metre, i. 367.
‘his oghne (hondes, &c.),’ i. 1427, ii. 3260.
Hoccleve, vii. 2061, 2416, 2889, 3295.
Homer, vi. 330.
homward, i. 938, iii. 2451.
Horace, false references to, vi. 1513, vii. 3581.
hors (pl.), iv. 1309.
horse side, &c., P. 1085.
horses of the sun, vii. 853.
Hortulanus, iv. 2533, 2609.
‘houses’ in astrology, vii. 991 ff.
Hugh of Fleury, viii. 2573.
Hyginus, ii. 2451, iii. 973, iv. 1815, v. 363, 4251, 5231 ff., 6435, vi. 399.
‘-ie’ termination, P. 299, 323, ii. 905.
‘if,’ interrogative, ii. 11.
imperative, 2nd pers. for 3rd, P. 550, viii. 1128,
sing. and plur., iv. 1432, v. 3986, 7372.
incest, iii. 172, viii. 158.
infinitive (Latin) as noun, P. Lat. Verses, iv. 4.
intelligences, vii. 26.
intersticion, vii. 283.
inverted order, i. 833, ii. 2642.
Jerome, iii. 641, v. 6359.
jeupartie, iii. 1173, vii. 3217.
Joachim (Abbot), ii. 3056.
John, ‘Seint John to borwe,’ v. 3416.
joutes, vii. 2279.
Justin, ii. 1613, vii. 2917, 3417.
Justinian II, vii. 3267.
Juvenal quoted, vii. 3581.
Kaire, ii. 2558.
Langharet, ii. 2995.
lapwing, v. 6041.
Latini, see Brunetto Latini.
Lay d’Aristote, viii. 2705.
Legenda Aurea, ii. 3187 ff.
‘leng the lasse,’ viii. 2055.
lere, i. 1509.
leste, adv. i. 3296.
lete, i. 3365, iv. 453.
‘lete by,’ ‘let of,’ v. 1004, 5840.
letters of request, P. 207.
Livy, vii. 5093, 5131.
loke, P. 52*.
Lombards, ii. 2098.
love (= luff), v. 7048.
Lydgate, i. 1129, 1917, 2443, iii. 143, iv. 869, 1330, 2533.
Macer, vi. 1408.
maintenue, viii. 3012.
Malebouche, ii. 389.
‘in manere,’ vii. 2132.
‘many,’ ii. 447.
Matthew Paris, v. 4937.
‘men,’ vi. 321.
menable, i. 1067.
merel, P. 430.
Methodius as authority, viii. 48, 62.
mi, min, iv. 3159.
microcosm, P. 947.
miht, mihte, iii. 1356.
mile, viii. 2312.
Mirour de l’Omme, P. 16, 54, 122, 204, 212, 323, 407, 430, 480, 823, 836, 900, 910, 945 ff., 1066, i. 10, 299, 463, 492, 636, 695, 709, 718, 1006, 1067, 1354, 1676, 2677, 2703, 3067, 3308, ii. 20, 83, 389, 401, 413, 2098, 2430, 3095, 3122, 3507, iii. 431, 585, 699, 2599, iv. 9, 60, 448, 893, 914, 1090, 1108, 1632, 2014, 2200, 2606, 2738, v. 29, 49, 249, 363, 370, 1879, 1900, 1919, 2015, 2238, 4774, 5507, 5550, 6041, 6359, 6372, 6389, 6395*, 6398, 6498, 7013, 7015*, 7105*, 7612, vi. 71, 218, 253, 770, 857, 1513, 1707, vii. 978, 3137, 3144, 3161* ff., 3581, 5307, viii. 110, 158, 2931, 3012.[Pg 654]
mistime, iii. 2458, vi. 4.
Morien, iv. 2609.
moste, viii. 395.
mote, viii. 640.
‘Namplus,’ ‘Nauplus,’ iii. 1002.
natheles, i. 21, vii. 979.
‘nedle and ston,’ vi. 1422.
newe, P. 92*.
‘Nonarcigne,’ v. 1009.
Norwich, bishop of, P. 268.
Octovien, gold of, v. 4731.
‘of hed,’ iv. 3438.
‘of this lif,’ &c., iv. 3414.
‘offering,’ v. 7140.
oil, vii. 2194.
old, olde, iii. 782.
omission of pronoun subject, P. 676, i. 1895, vi. 34;
of relative, i. 10;
of negative, ii. 2423, iii. 78.
‘on the ferste,’ &c., iv. 2606.
‘onwrong,’ P. 65*.
oppose, i. 225.
‘Orbis,’ vii. 611.
order of words, P. 155, 905, i. 833, ii. 2642,
of clauses, P. 34*, i. 2078, ii. 709.
Ormulum, viii. 2833.
Orosius, ii. 1613, vii. 3417, 4574.
orthography, P. 24*, 252, 550, 702, iv. 2123, v. 5215, 5248, vii. 3418, viii. 484, 2938, PP. (p. 552).
other, othre, i. 116.
outwith, viii. 2833.
overhippe, v. 2004.
Ovid as authority, P. 1055, i. 333, 389, 2275 ff., ii. 104, 2157, 2451, iii. 143 ff., 361, 736, 783, 818, 1331, 1685, iv. 77, 104, 147, 371, 451, 731 ff., 816, 979, 1035, 1901, 2045, 2927 ff., 3187, 3317, 3515 ff., v. 141 ff., 635, 1009, 3927 ff., 4583, 5231, 5551 ff., 6145 ff., 6225 ff., 6713 ff., 6807, vi. 485, 1445, 1513, vii. 3355, 4593 ff., 4754 ff.
‘owl on stock,’ iii. 585.
Pantheon, see Godfrey of Viterbo.
par, per, i. 2049.
paragraphs in the MSS., ii. 2451, v. 1323.
pars, v. 4774.
participle absolute, ii. 752, 791, 1723.
participle for infinitive, i. 3153, iv. 249, 816.
participle inflected as predicate, i. 3246.
Paulus Diaconus, i. 2459.
Paulus Langius, ii. 2803.
peace with France, P. 162.
‘peace with honour,’ PP. 157.
peacock, v. 6498.
‘peire of bedes,’ viii. 2904.
Pericles, Prince of Tyre, viii. 271, 1534.
pernable, viii. 2931.
Physics of Aristotle, vi. 663.
‘pillars of Hercules,’ iv. 2054.
pipe, v. 95.
plight, vii. 4228.
‘poete,’ i. e. Ovid, v. 5231.
‘positive law,’ P. 247, iii. 172.
pronoun subject omitted, P. 676, i. 1895, vi. 34.
Proteus, v. 3082.
provende, P. 210.
proverbs, P. 416, i. 1293, 1917, iii. 585, v. 4787, 6526.
Pseudo, v. 1879.
punctuation, P. 809, i. 320, 1102, 2548, 2939, ii. 762, 1001 f., 1173, 1950, iii. 1394, iv. 733, 1490, 1927, 3438 (end), 3542, v. 1636, 1980, 2937, 3966; 3981, 5093, 5724, 6281, vi. 2074, vii. 2302, viii. 1101, 2713.
queinte, iv. 2314.
Ragman, viii. 2378.
Razel, vi. 1316.
relative omitted, i. 10.
reles, vi. 253.
remene, v. 6541.
repetition of line, i. 2106, iii. 352.
reprise, i. 3308, v. 4708.
rhyme, ii. 2578, 2680, iv. 453, 979, 1723, v. 3488, 3786, 6073, vi. 709, viii. 1451, PP. 150.
Richard II, viii. 2991*.
riddles, viii. 405, 1681.
Rishanger’s Chronicle, ii. 2803.
Robert of Geneva, P. 196.
Roman de la Rose, P. 945, i. 196, 213, 2443, ii. 389, iii. 1158, iv. 2200, 2421, 2901, vi. 330, vii. 5131.
Roman de toute Chevalerie as authority, vi. 1789 ff.
Roman des Sept Sages as authority, v. 2031, 2643.
Roman de Troie, see Benoît de Sainte-More.
‘Romance of Alexander,’ (English), vi. 1789 ff.
Romance of Ydoine and Amadas, vi. 879.
rote, vi. 1312.[Pg 655]
schapthe, vi. 785.
scomerfare, viii. 1391.
sea terms, iv. 1741, v. 7048.
Secretum Secretorum, iv. 2533, v. 6498, vi. 663, vii. 1, 1706, 2017, 2031 ff., 3207*, 4559.
see, PP. 382.
sein (= seen), i. 2883.
sende (pret.), P. 1013.
Seneca, vii. 2061,
false references to, ii. 3095, v. 7736.
sete, vii. 2864.
sett, viii. 2095.
Silvester, legend of, ii. 3187.
Simon Magus, P. 204.
‘slake a riff,’ viii. 1983.
slyke, v. 6634.
sojorned, vi. 1180.
solein, iv. 448.
som, P. 529.
Sortes, viii. 2718.
soth, sothe, P. 850.
Speculum Astronomiae as authority, vi. 1306 ff., vii. 1449.
Speculum Stultorum, v. 4937 ff.
‘Spertachus,’ vii. 3417 ff.
stars, names of, vii. 1281, 1329 ff.
Statius as authority, i. 1980, iv. 1968, v. 2961 ff.
statue, P. 891.
stature, vi. 1524.
‘stones’ of alchemy, iv. 2533.
‘strong thing,’ v. 7377.
subjunctive in indirect speech. P. 41, i. 532, iii. 708;
with ‘who that,’ &c., P. 460, iv. 1096, v. 2677.
‘Supplication,’ viii. 2217.
supposeth (impers.), v. 22.
symbolism of Gower, i. 2355, ii. 196, v. 5943.
syncope, P. 66*, 152, v. 519.
‘Synon,’ ‘Symon,’ i. 1172.
take, P. 54.
‘tale and ende,’ v. 5670.
Tantalus, punishment of, v. 363.
‘testament of love,’ viii. 2955*.
‘that,’ v. 899,
‘that I arise,’ &c., iv. 3273, v. 3422,
‘that I ne hadde,’ &c., iv. 1422,
‘that ... ne betre (more, &c.),’ i. 718, ii. 1423.
‘the,’ use of, P. 72, 116.
Thebith, vi. 1321.
thenken, thinken, i. 2684.
‘ther,’ i. 987.
Tiberius Constantinus, ii. 590.
tire, vi. 817.
‘to,’ use of, v. 5724,
‘to loke,’ &c., P. 133,
‘to’ after ‘mai,’ ‘myhte,’ ‘mote,’ ii. 510, vii. 437, viii. 640.
‘he to go,’ viii. 1393.
tome (= to me), i. 232.
tome (subst.), ii. 2680.
topseilcole, viii. 1890.
‘toward,’ v. 6757, viii. 2077.
Trésor, see Brunetto Latini.
Trevisa’s Polychronicon, vii. 2194.
Trivet as authority, ii. 587.
‘Troian,’ vii. 3144.
Tullius, iv. 2648, vii. 1595.
tyh (pret.), v. 5709.
u and v, vii. 5390.
‘under the gore,’ &c., v. 5730, 6680.
unskilfully, vii. 4757.
unwar, vi. 1262.
Valerii Epistola ad Rufinum, v. 6398 f.
Valerius Maximus, ii. 1613, vii. 2217, 2783, 2845, 2889, 3181, 3215.
Valerius, Res Gestae Alexandri vi. 1789 ff.
‘vernage,’ vi. 218.
vers, vi. 70.
Vincent of Beauvais, i. 761, ii. 1613, iii. 1201, vii. 283, 989, viii. 2573.
Virgil, legends of, v. 2031, viii. 2714.
Vita Iohannis Eleemosynarii, vii. 2416.
Vox Clamantis, P. 207, 247, 268, 305, 407, 945, 947, i. 718, v. 1879, 1900, 4937, viii. 2212, PP. 157 and p. 554.
Walsingham’s Chronicle, iv. 3438.
‘was,’ viii. 2435.
Weddynge of Sir Gawene, i. 1407 ff.
weer, P. 143.
what (subst.), i. 1676.
‘what’ (= whatever), P. 69*.
‘whi ne were it,’ iv. 2855.
‘whiche’ in the metre, i. 2769.
‘who that,’ P. 13.
William of Malmesbury, v. 4731.
‘Wit and Will,’ iii. 1158.
‘with,’ use of, i. 452, v. 6757, vii. 3359.
‘with al,’ vi. 1707.
wool, iv. 2895.
world, P. 383, iii. 626.
ydel, v. 4724.
‘yit’ used redundantly, vi. 311, 2418.
Ylem, vii. 216.
Zoroaster, vi. 2368.

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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The complete works of John Gower, volume 3 by John Gower

THE COMPLETE WORKS
OF
JOHN GOWER

CONTENTS

CORRIGENDA ET ADDENDA

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

FOOTNOTES:

Incipit Liber Sextus

FOOTNOTES:

Incipit Liber Septimus.

FOOTNOTES:

Incipit Liber Octavus.

FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:

TO KING HENRY THE FOURTH1902

FOOTNOTES:

NOTES

GLOSSARY
AND
INDEX OF PROPER NAMES

INDEX TO THE NOTES

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The complete works of John Gower, volume 3 by John Gower

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN GOWER

CONTENTS

CORRIGENDA ET ADDENDA

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

FOOTNOTES:

Incipit Liber Sextus

FOOTNOTES:

Incipit Liber Septimus.

FOOTNOTES:

Incipit Liber Octavus.

FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:

TO KING HENRY THE FOURTH1902

FOOTNOTES:

NOTES

GLOSSARY AND INDEX OF PROPER NAMES

INDEX TO THE NOTES

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

THE COMPLETE WORKS
OF
JOHN GOWER

GLOSSARY
AND
INDEX OF PROPER NAMES